If there is anything in the world that can really be called a man's property, it is surely that which is the result of his mental activity.

If children were brought into the world by an act of pure reason alone, would the human race continue to exist? Would not a man rather have so much sympathy with the coming generation as to spare it the burden of existence, or at any rate not take it upon himself to impose that burden upon it in cold blood?

Honor means that a man is not exceptional; fame, that he is. Fame is something which must be won; honor, only something which must not be lost.

Men best show their character in trifles, where they are not on their guard. It is in the simplest habits, that we often see the boundless egotism which pays no regard to the feelings of others and denies nothing to itself.

Suffering by nature or chance never seems so painful as suffering inflicted on us by the arbitrary will of another.

Life is full of troubles and vexations, that one must either rise above it by means of corrected thoughts, or leave it.

I believe that when death closes our eyes we shall awaken to a light, of which our sunlight is but the shadow.