As to real gallantry, the French style depraves the minds of men least, ours is most favorable to the peace of families.

I think I preserve the balance of argument admirably.

My opinion, however, is, that if people married from affection, there would be no such thing as gallantry at all.

Pride, and the parade of life, destroy all happiness:  our whole felicity depends on our choice in marriage, yet we chuse from motives more trifling than would determine us in the common affairs of life.

I knew a gentleman who fancied himself in love, yet delayed marrying his mistress till he could afford a set of plate.

Modern manners are very unfavorable to the tender affections.

Ancient lovers had only dragons to combat; ours have the worse monsters of avarice and ambition.

All I shall say further on the subject is, that the two happiest people I ever knew were a country clergyman and his wife, whose whole income did not exceed one hundred pounds a year.

A pretty philosophical, sentimental, dull kind of an epistle this!

But you deserve it, for not answering my last, which was divine.

I am pleased with Emily’s ideas about her dress at the masquerade; it is a proof you are still lovers.

I remember, the first symptoms I discovered of my tendresse for Fitzgerald was my excessive attention to this article:  I have tried on twenty different caps when I expected him at Silleri.

Before we drop the subject of gallantries, I must tell you I am charmed with you and my sposo, for never giving the least hint before Emily and me that you have had any; it is a piece of delicacy which convinces me of your tenderness more than all the vows that ever lovers broke would do.

I have been hurt at the contrary behaviour in Temple; and have observed Lucy to be so too, though her excessive attention not to give him pain prevented her shewing it:  I have on such an occasion seen a smile on her countenance, and a tear of tender regret starting into her eyes.

A woman who has vanity without affection will be pleased to hear of your past conquests, and regard them as victims immolated to her superior charms:  to her, therefore, it is right to talk of them; but to flatter the heart, and give delight to a woman who truly loves, you should appear too much taken up with the present passion to look back to the past:  you should not even present to her imagination the thought that you have had other engagements:  we know such things are, but had rather the idea should not be awakened:  I may be wrong, but I speak from my own feelings.

I am excessively pleased with a thought I met with in a little French novel: 

“Un homme qui ne peut plus compter ses bonnes fortunes, est de tous, celui qui connoit le moins les faveurs.  C’est le coeur qui les accorde, & ce n’est pas le coeur qu’un homme a la mode interesse.  Plus on est prone par les femmes, plus il est facile de les avoir, mais moins il est possible de les enflammer.”