The person of intellect is lost unless they unite with energy of character. When we have the lantern of Diogenese we must also have his staff.

Decency

No law reaches it, but all right-minded people observe it.

Fame

Celebrity is the advantage of being known to people who we don't know, and who don't know us.

Getting Ahead

It is commonly supposed that the art of pleasing is a wonderful aid in the pursuit of fortune; but the art of being bored is infinitely more successful.

Independence

Nature never said to me: Do not be poor; still less did she say: Be rich; her cry to me was always: Be independent.

Mind

Conviction is the conscience of the mind.

Passion

All passions exaggerate; and they are passions only because they do exaggerate.

Reason

People are governed with the head; kindness of heart is little use in chess.

Society

Society is composed of two great classes, those that have more dinners than appetite, and those who have more appetite than dinners.

Writers and Writing

An author is often obscure to the reader because they proceed from the thought to expression than like the reader from the expression to the thought.