How strange it is that we of the present day are constantly praising that past age which our fathers abused, and as constantly abusing that present age, which our children will praise.

Ignorance is a blank sheet, on which we may write; but error is a scribbled one, on which we must first erase.

There is this of good in real evils; they deliver us, while they last, from the petty despotism of all that were imaginary.

Fashions smile has given wit to dullness and grace to deformity, and has brought everything into vogue, by turns, but virtue.

Ladies of Fashion starve their happiness to feed their vanity, and their love to feed their pride.

Some indeed there are who profess to despise all flattery, but even these are nevertheless to be flattered, by being told that they do despise it.

We must be careful how we flatter fools too little, or wise men too much, for the flatterer must act the very reverse of the physician, and administer the strongest dose only to the weakest patient.

A wise man may be duped as well as a fool; but the fool publishes the triumph of the deceiver.

Riches may enable us to confer favours, but to confer them with propriety and grace requires a something that riches cannot give.

Those graces which from their presumed facility encourage all to attempt an imitation of them, are usually the most inimitable.