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Applause is the spur of noble minds, the end and aim of weak ones.

Repartee is perfect when it effects its purpose with a double edge. It is the highest order of wit, as it indicates the coolest yet quickest exercise of genius, at a moment when the passions are roused.

When you have nothing to say, say nothing.

Most of our misfortune are more supportable than the comments of our friends upon them.

Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.

We often pretend to fear what we really despise, and more often despise what we really fear.

Subtract from the great man all that he owes to opportunity, all that he owes to chance, and all that he gained by the wisdom of his friends and the folly of his enemies, and the giant will often be seen to be a pygmy.

To look back to antiquity is one thing, to go back to it is another.

True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost.

To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it: the pains of power are real, its pleasure imaginary.

Power will intoxicate the best hearts, as wine the strongest heads. No man is wise enough, nor good enough to be trusted with unlimited power.

There is a paradox in pride: it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from becoming so.

There is this paradox in pride--it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from becoming so.

He that is good, will infallibly become better, and he that is bad, will as certainly become worse; for vice, virtue and time are three things that never stand still.

There is nothing more imprudent than excessive prudence.

Men are born with two eyes, but with one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say.

Men will wrangle for religion; write for it; fight for it; die for it; anything but live for it.

The two most precious things this side of the grave are our reputation and our life. But it is to be lamented that the most contemptible whisper may deprive us of the one, and the weakest weapon of the other.

He that knows himself, knows others; and he that is ignorant of himself, could not write a very profound lecture on other men's heads.

Silence is foolish if we are wise, but wise if we are foolish.