"The knowledge of others which experience gives us, is of slight value when compared with that which we obtain from having proved the inconstancy of our own desires."

“You must work for yourself; for what you reject may be as important for you to have seen and thought about, as what you adopt.”

“Do not mistake energy for enthusiasm; the softest speakers are often the most enthusiastic of men.”

“No man ever praised two persons equally – and pleased them both.”

“There is nothing so easily made offensive as good reasoning; and men of clear logical minds, if not gifted at the same time with tact, make more enemies than men with bad hearts and unsound understandings.”

“Our knowledge of human nature is for the most part empirical; and it would often be better, if, instead of endeavouring to say some new things ourselves, we were to confirm without more words the sayings of another.”

“The more truth you can get into any business, the better. Let the other side know the defects of yours, let them know how you are to be satisfied, let there be as little to be found as possible , and if your business be an honest one, it will be best tended in this way.”