Charles Caleb Colton

True friendship is like sound health, the value is seldom appreciated until it is lost.

If universal charity prevailed, Earth would be a heaven, and hell a fable.

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

We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock of wine; but if we defer tasting them too long, we shall find that both are soured by age.

There are two modes of establishing our reputation: to be praised by honest men, and to be abused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the former, because it will invariably be accompanied by the latter.

Riches may enable us to confer favours, but to confer them with propriety and grace requires a something that riches cannot give.

True friendship is like sound health, the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.

True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.

To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail our pride supports us; when we succeed, it betrays us.

Times of general calamity and confusion create great minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storms.

If you cannot inspire a woman with love of you, fill her above the brim with love of herself; all that runs over will be yours.

Deliberate with caution, but act with decision; and yield with graciousness, or oppose with firmness.

Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer.

If you would be known, and not know, vegetate in a village; If you would know, and not be known, live in a city.

Men are born with two eyes, but only one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say.

The greatest friend of Truth is time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion Humility.

We hate some persons because we do not know them; and we will not know them because we hate them.

Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.

To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it.

Many books require no thought from those who read them, and for a very simple reason; they made no such demand upon those who wrote them.

Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship - never.

To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than their own hearts in their closet.

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

When you have nothing to say, say nothing.

There is a paradox in pride: it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from becoming so.

None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.