Barbarism recommences by the excess of civilization.

Life is too short to spare an hour of it in the indulgence of this evil passion.

A conscience without God is like a court without a judge.

Nature has given women two painful but heavenly gifts, which distinguish them, and often raise them above human nature,--compassion and enthusiasm. By compassion, they devote themselves; by enthusiasm they exalt themselves.

Experience is the only prophecy of wise men.

Every time that a people which has long crouched in slavery and ignorance is moved to its lowest depths there appear monsters and heroes, prodigies of crime and prodigies of virtue.

The impartiality of history is not that of the mirror, which merely reflects objects, but of the judge, who sees, listens, and decides.