With woman ‘Yea’ and ‘Nay’ are meaningless and interchangeable terms.

* * *

’Ware a show of excessive feeling.  It is proof, either that it is shallow and evanescent, or that it is put on.  At all events Excessive feeling is rarely taken seriously.  Now

Seriousness adds a spice to gallantry.  But, like spice, a little is ample.

* * *

Many men think it is the woman who has to be persuaded.  It is not the woman; it is her scruples.  Besides, “Nemo repente turpissimus—­vel turpissima”.  Yet

By thirty, scruples are either dormant or dominant.

Both of the callow youth of fifteen and the man of the world of forty-five swear by the woman of thirty.

* * *

It may seem a paradox, but it is a truism, that, in matters of love, it is the weaker and the defenseless sex that takes the initiative.  In other words,

The woman makes the opportunity which the man takes.  And

An opportunity missed is an opportunity lost.  And

The woman is implacable to the man who sees the opportunity and takes it not.  Since

With woman indifference is worse than insult.  Wherefore

Never, never disappoint a woman.

* * *

Spontaneous admiration is the sincerest flattery.  Those who know this, affect spontaneity.  But it requires much art to conceal this art.

You will oftener err upon the side of ultra-delicacy in a compliment that upon the side of bare-facedness.

Do not imagine that excessive admiration can give offence.  But remember that

The eye can netter express admiration than can the tongue.

The publicity with which a woman will receive admiration from a male admirer 144 often is sufficient to astonish that admirer.  But

Often enough it is the admiration, not the admirer, that a woman covets.  Indeed,

Many a woman is in love with love (3), but not her lover.  But this no lover can be got to comprehend.

To flatter by deprecating a rival is a complement of extremely doubtful efficacy.

(3) I seem to remember that somebody before has said something like this before.

* * *

A woman does not admire too clement a conqueror.  She admits the right to ovation, and to him who waives it she lightly regards.

* * *

Seek no stepping-stones unless you mean to cross: 

He who gathers stepping-stones and refrains from crossing is contempted of women.  Indeed,

Every advance of which advantage is not taken, is in reality a retreat.  And remember, too, that though

Sought interviews are sweet, those unsought are sweeter.  And

Probably no son of Adam—­and for the matter of that, probably no daughter of Eve—­ever quite looks back with remorse upon a semi-innocent escapade.  Yet

The man who thinks he can at any time extract himself from any feminine entanglement that he may choose to have raveled, is a simpleton.