“He who seldom speaks, and with one calm well-timed word can strike dumb the loquacious, is a genius or a hero.”
“Don't speak evil of someone if you don't know for certain, and if you do know ask yourself, why am I telling it?”
“You may depend upon it that he is a good man whose intimate friends are all good, and whose enemies are decidedly bad.”
“He who has no taste for order, will be often wrong in his judgment, and seldom considerate or conscientious in his actions.”
“Neatness begets order; but from order to taste there is the same difference as from taste to genius, or from love to friendship.”
“You may tell a man thou art a fiend, but not your nose wants blowing; to him alone who can bear a thing of that kind, you may tell all.”
“Depend on no man, on no friend but him who can depend on himself. He only who acts conscientiously toward himself, will act so toward others.”
“Mistrust the person who finds everything good, and the person who finds everything evil, and mistrust even more the person who is indifferent to everything.”
“Who in the same given time can produce more than others has vigor; who can produce more and better, has talents; who can produce what none else can, has genius.”
“The prudent see only the difficulties, the bold only the advantages, of a great enterprise; the hero sees both; diminishes the former and makes the latter preponderate, and so conquers.”
“I am prejudiced in favor of him who, without impudence, can ask boldly. He has faith in humanity, and faith in himself. No one who is not accustomed to giving grandly can ask nobly and with boldness.”
“There are many kinds of smiles, each having a distinct character. Some announce goodness and sweetness, others betray sarcasm, bitterness and pride; some soften the countenance by their languishing tenderness, others brighten by their spiritual vivacity.”