ark, empty tracts of night, and
pursuing him as something more than phantoms, if he does not tear
himself free from them.

To the several perversities of the day a man should always oppose only
the great masses of universal history. That we have many criticisms to
make on those who visit us, and that, as soon as they depart, we pass no
very amiable judgment upon them, seems to me almost natural; for we
have, so to speak, a right to measure them by our own standard. Even
intelligent and fair-minded men hardly refrain from sharp censure on
such occasions.

But if, on the contrary, we have been in their homes, and have seen them
in their surroundings and habits and the circumstances which are
necessary and inevitable for them; if we have seen the kind of influence
they exert on those around them, or how they behave, it is only
ignorance and ill-will that can find food for ridicule in what must
appear to us in more than one sense worthy of respect.

Women's society is the element of good manners.

The most privileged position, in life as in society, is that of an
educated soldier. Rough warriors, at any rate, remain true to their
character, and as great strength is usually the cover for good nature,
we get on with them at need.

No one would come into a room with spectacles on his nose, if he knew
that women at once lose any inclination to look at or talk to him.

There is no outward sign of politeness that will be found to lack some
deep moral foundation. The right kind of education would be that which
conveyed the sign and the foundation at the same time.

A man's manners are the mirror in which he shows his portrait.

Against the great superiority of another there is no remedy but love.

It is a terrible thing for an eminent man to be gloried in by fools.

It is said that no man is a hero to his valet. That is only because a
hero can be recognized only by a hero. The valet will probably know how
to appreciate his like--his fellow-valet.

Fools and wise folk are alike harmless. It is the half-wise, and the
half-foolish, who are the most dangerous.

To see a difficult thing lightly handled gives us the impression of the
impossible.

Difficulties increase the nearer we come to our aim.

Sowing is not so painful as reaping.

If any one meets us who owes us a debt of gratitude, it immediately
crosses our mind. How often can we meet some one to whom we owe
gratitude, without thinking of it!

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