Dr. Johnson said this

 "To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life. Many wants are suffered, which might once have been supplied; and much time is lost in regretting the time which had been lost before."

"Every man of any education would rather be called a rascal, than accused of deficiency in the graces."

"The Irish are a very fair people, sir. They never talk well of one another." (This is also true of Romanians.)