Do not offer a compliment and ask a favor at the same time. A compliment that is charged for is not valuable.

There is a lot to say in her favor, but the other is more interesting.

Honest poverty is a gem that even a king might be proud to call his own - but I wish to sell out

I wonder how much it would take to buy a soap bubble, if there were only one in the world.

Reputation is a hall-mark: it can remove doubt from pure silver, and it can also make the plated article pass for pure.

I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel they have not said enough.