Genuine good taste consists in saying much in few words, in choosing among our thoughts, in having order and arrangement in what we say, and in speaking with composure.
— Francois Fenelon
Nothing is more despicable than a professional talker who uses his words as a quack uses his remedies.
Had we not faults of our own, we should take less pleasure in complaining of others.
Little opportunities should be improved.
Children are excellent observers, and will often perceive your slightest defects. In general, those who govern children, forgive nothing in them, but everything in themselves.
A good historian is timeless; although he is a patriot, he will never flatter his country in any respect.
If we were faultless we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate.
There is a set of religious, or rather moral, writings which teach that virtue is the certain road to happiness, and vice to misery in this world. A very wholesome and comfortable doctrine, and to which we have but one objection, namely, that it is not true.
All earthly delights are sweeter in expectation than in enjoyment; but all spiritual pleasures more in fruition than in expectation.
Exactness and neatness in moderation is a virtue, but carried to extremes narrows the mind.
Do not make best friends with a melancholy sad soul. They always are heavily loaded, and you must bear half.
All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers.
