Frequent and loud laughter is the characteristic of folly and ill manners.
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While I am to crawl upon this Planet, I would willingly enjoy the health at least of an insect.
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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.
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Sculpture and painting are very justly called liberal arts; a lively and strong imagination, together with a just observation, being absolutel...
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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.
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Lord Tyrawley and I have been dead these two years, but we don't choose to have it known.
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The pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable.
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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.
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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.
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As fathers commonly go, it is seldom a misfortune to be fatherless; and considering the general run of sons, as seldom a misfortune to be childless.
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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...
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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.
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I recommend you to take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves.
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Whoever is admitted or sought for, in company, upon any other account than that of his merit and manners, is never respected there, but only made use of. We will have such-a-one, for he sings prettily; we will invite such-a-one to a ball, for he dances well; we will have such-a-one at supper, for he is always joking and laughing; we will ask another because he plays deep at all games, or because he can drink a great deal. These are all vilifying distinctions, mortifying preferences, and exclude all ideas of esteem and regard. Whoever is had (as it is called) in company for the sake of any one thing singly, is singly that thing, and will never be considered in any other light; consequently never respected, let his merits be what they will.
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No man tastes pleasures truly, who does not earn them by previous business; and few people do business well, who do nothing else.
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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...
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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.
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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 ...
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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...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I deny it. A truth learned in a certain light, and attacked in certain words, by men of wit and humor, may, and often doth, become ridiculous, at least so far, that the truth is only remembered and repeated for the sake of the ridicule.
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An honest man may really love a pretty girl, but only an idiot marries her merely because she is pretty.
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In the case of scandal, as in that of robbery, the receiver is always thought as bad as the thief.
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The scholar without good breeding is a nitpicker; the philosopher a cynic; the soldier a brute and everyone else disagreeable.
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Choose your pleasures for yourself, and do not let them be imposed upon you.
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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.
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Being pretty on the inside means you don't hit your brother and you eat all your peas - that's what my grandma taught me.
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Politeness is as much concerned in answering letters within a reasonable time, as it is in returning a bow, immediately.
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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...
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