He who mixes with unclean things becomes unclean himself; he whose associations are pure becomes purer each day.
Heaven's gate is narrow and minute,[29] It cannot be perceived by foolish men, Blinded by vain illusions of the world. E'en the clear-sighted, who discern the way And seek to enter, find the portal barred And hard to be unlocked. Its massive bolts Are pride and passion, avarice and lust.
Eschew that friend, if thou art wise, who consorts with thy enemies.
Who can tell Men's hearts? The purest comprehend Such contradictions, and can blend The force to bear, the power to feel, The tender bud, the tempered steel.
Whosoever hath not knowledge, and benevolence, and piety knoweth nothing of reality, and dwelleth only in semblance.
If thou shouldst find thy friend in the wrong reprove him secretly, but in the presence of company praise him.
Modesty is attended with profit, arrogance brings on destruction.
The greatest hatred, like the greatest virtue and the worst dogs, is quiet.
Is a preface exquisitely written? No literary morsel is more delicious. Is the author inveterately dull? It is a kind of preparatory information, which may be very useful. It argues a deficiency of taste to turn over an elaborate preface unread: for it is the attar of the author's roses, every drop distilled at an immense cost. It is the reason of the reasoning, and the folly of the foolish.
Vulgar prejudices are those which arise out of accident, ignorance, or authority; natural prejudices are those which arise out of the constitution of the human mind itself.
Lament not Fortune's mutability, And seize her fickle favours ere they flee; If others never mourned departed bliss, How should a turn of Fortune come to thee?
Harsh reproof is like a violent storm, soon washed down the channel; but friendly admonitions, like a small shower, pierce deep, and bring forth better reformation.
There are braying men in the world as well as braying asses; for what's loud and senseless talking, huffing, and swearing any other than a more fashionable way of braying?
All wit and fancy, like a diamond, The more exact and curious 'tis ground, Is forced for every carat to abate As much of value as it wants in weight.