There is little less trouble in governing a private family than a whole kingdom.

It is as though our very touch bore infection: things which in themselves are good and beautiful are corrupted by our handling of them.

The way of truth is one and artless: the way of private gain and success in such affairs as we are entrusted with is double, uneven and fortuitous.

'Tis the sharpness of our mind that gives the edge to our pains and pleasures.

The want of goods is easily repaired, but the poverty of the soul is irreparable.

Let us not be ashamed to speak what we shame not to think.

Human understanding is marvellously enlightened by daily conversation with men, for we are, otherwise, compressed and heaped up in ourselves, and have our sight limited to the length of our own noses.

As an enemy is made more fierce by our flight, so Pain grows proud to see us knuckle under it. She will surrender upon much better terms to those who make head against her.

One may be humble out of pride.

Better to be tentative than to be recklessly sure- to be an apprentice at sixty, than to present oneself as a doctor at ten.