While I am to crawl upon this Planet, I would willingly enjoy the health at least of an insect.
|
Frequent and loud laughter is the characteristic of folly and ill manners.
|
Lord Tyrawley and I have been dead these two years, but we don't choose to have it known.
|
I am convinced that a light supper, a good night's sleep, and a fine morning, have sometimes made a hero of the same man, who, by an indigestion, a restless night, and rainy morning, would have proved a coward.
|
Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob, who are only pleased with silly things; for true Wit or good Sense never excited a laugh since the creation of the world. A man of parts and fashion is therefore often seen to smile, but never heard to laugh.
|
Learning is acquired by reading books but the much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading man, and studying all the various editions of them.
|
I am not of the opinion generally entertained in this country [England], that man lives by Greek and Latin alone; that is, by knowing a great ...
|
Sculpture and painting are very justly called liberal arts; a lively and strong imagination, together with a just observation, being absolutel...
|
Remember that the wit, humour, and jokes of most mixed companies are local. They thrive in that particular soil, but will not often bear trans...
|
He had a gentleman-like frankness in his behaviour, and as a great point of honour as a minister can have, especially a minister at the head o...
|
Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked.
|
The pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable.
|
An honest man may really love a pretty girl, but only an idiot marries her merely because she is pretty.
|
Gold and silver are but merchandise, as well as cloth or linen; and that nation that buys the least, and sells the most, must always have the ...
|
Horse-play, romping, frequent and loud fits of laughter, jokes, and indiscriminate familiarity, will sink both merit and knowledge into a degree of contempt. They compose at most a merry fellow; and a merry fellow was never yet a respectable man.
|
Politeness is as much concerned in answering letters within a reasonable time, as it is in returning a bow, immediately.
|
All I desire for my own burial, is not to be buried alive; but how or where, I think, must be entirely indifferent to every rational creature.
|
The receipt to make a speaker, and an applauded one too, is short and easy.—Take of common sense quantum sufficit, add a little application ...
|
Custom has made dancing sometimes necessary for a young man; therefore mind it while you learn it, that you may learn to do it well, and not be ridiculous, though in a ridiculous act.
|
A young man, be his merit what it will, can never raise himself; but must, like the ivy round the oak, twine himself round some man of great p...
|
The world can doubtless never be well known by theory: practice is absolutely necessary; but surely it is of great use to a young man, before he sets out for that country, full of mazes, windings, and turnings, to have at least a general map of it, made by some experienced traveler.
|
Merit at Courts, without favour, will do little or nothing; favour, without merit, will do a good deal; but favour and merit together will do ...
|
Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.
|
A constant smirk upon the face, and a whiffing activity of the body, are strong indications of futility.
|
All I can say, in answer to this kind queries [of friends] is that I have not the distemper called the Plague; but that I have all the plagues...
|
There is not a more prudent maxim, than to live with one's enemies as if they may one day become one's friends; as it commonly happens, sooner...
|
It must be owned, that the Graces do not seem to be natives of Great Britain; and I doubt, the best of us here have more of rough than polished diamond.
|
I often wish for the end of the wretched remnant of my life; and that wish is a rational one; but then the innate principle of self-preservati...
|
I could heartily wish that you may often be seen to smile, but never heard to laugh while you live. Frequent and loud laughter is the characte...
|
If a marriage is going to work well, it must be on a solid footing, namely money, and of that commodity it is the girl with the smallest dowry...
|