All ceremonies are in themselves very silly things; but yet, a man of the world should know them. They are the outworks of Manners... and Decency, which would be too often broken in upon, if it were not for that defence, which keeps the enemy at a proper distance.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
A man of sense only trifles with them, plays with them, humours and flatters them, as he does with a sprightly and forward child; ...but he neither consults them about, nor trusts them with, serious matters.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The vulgar look upon a man, who is reckoned a fine speaker, as a phenomenon, a supernatural being, and endowed with some peculiar ...gift of Heaven; they stare at him, if he walks in the park, and cry, that is he. You will, I am sure, view him in a juster light, and nulla formidine. You will consider him only as a man of good sense, who adorns common thoughts with the graces of elocution, and the elegancy of style. The miracle will then cease.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
When a man of sense happens to be in that disagreeable situation in which he is obliged to ask himself more than once, What shall ...I do? he will answer himself, Nothing. When his reason points out to him no good way, he will stop short, and wait for light. A little busy mind runs on at all events, must be doing; and, like a blind horse, fears no dangers, because he sees none. Il faut scavoir s'ennuïer.*LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
A young man, be his merit what it will, can never raise himself; but must, like the ivy round the oak, twine himself round some ma...n of great power and interest.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
It is to be presumed, that a man of common sense, who does not desire to please, desires nothing at all; since he must know that h...e cannot obtain anything without it.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
A man of sense soon discovers, because he carefully observes, where and how long he is welcome; and takes care to leave the compan...y at least as soon as he is wished out of it. Fools never perceive whether they are ill timed or ill placed.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Civility, which is a disposition to accommodate and oblige others, is essentially the same in every country; but good breeding, as... it is called, which is the manner of exerting that disposition, is different in almost every country, and merely local; and every man of sense imitates and conforms to that local good breeding of the place which he is at.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »