Let me tell you I am better acquainted with you for a long absence, as men are with themselves for a long affliction: absence does but hold off a friend, to make one see him the truer.

Arts and Artists

The hidden harmony is better than the obvious.

Chastity

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot? The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

Credit

Blest paper-credit! last and best supply! That lends corruption lighter wings to fly!

Devil

Satan is wiser now than before, and tempts by making rich instead of poor.

Exaggeration

Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?

Fame

What's fame? a fancy'd life in other's breath. A thing beyond us, even before our death.

Forgiveness

To err is human, to forgive is divine.

Gossip

And all who told it added something new, and all who heard it, made enlargements too.

Hatred

To be angry is to revenge the faults of others on ourselves.

Humankind

If, presume not to God to scan; The proper study of Mankind is Man. Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state, a being darkly wise, and rudely great.

Inheritance

Die and endow a college or a cat.

Memory

Lulled in the countless chambers of the brain, our thoughts are linked by many a hidden chain; awake but one, and in, what myriads rise!

Merit

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Observation

One who is too wise an observer of the business of others, like one who is too curious in observing the labor of bees, will often be stung for his curiosity.

Passion

Passions are the gales of life.

Praise

Fondly we think we honor merit then, When we but praise ourselves in other men.

Progress

Not to go back is somewhat to advance, and men must walk, at least, before they dance.

Self-knowledge

Trust not yourself, but your defects to know, make use of every friend and every foe.

Tyranny

Like Cato, give his little senate laws, and sit attentive to his own applause.

Wealth

But Satan now is wiser than of yore, and tempts by making rich, not making poor.

Writers and Writing

Most authors steal their works, or buy.