Charles Caleb Colton

It is always safe to learn, even from our enemies; seldom safe to venture to instruct, even our friends. ”

There are some frauds so well conducted that it would be stupidity not to be deceived by them. ”

Ladies of Fashion starve their happiness to feed their vanity, and their love to feed their pride. ”

Happiness, that grand mistress of the ceremonies in the dance of life, impels us through all its mazes and meanderings, but leads none of us by the same route. ”

There is this difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man, really is so; but he that thinks himself the wisest, is generally the greatest fool. ”

To be obliged to beg our daily happiness from others bespeaks a more lamentable poverty than that of him who begs his daily bread. ”

True contentment depends not upon what we have; a tub was large enough for Diogenes, but a world was too little for Alexander. ”

Doubt is the vestibule through which all must pass before they can enter into the temple of wisdom. ”

Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance. ”

The two most precious things this side of the grave are our reputation and our life. But it is to be lamented that the most contemptible whisper may deprive us of the one, and the weakest weapon of the other. ”