A happy life is impos­si­ble; the best that a man can attain is a heroic life.

A man's delight in looking forward to and hoping for some particular satisfaction is a part of the pleasure flowing out of it, enjoyed in advance. But this is afterward deducted, for the more we look forward to anything the less we enjoy it when it comes.

Will without intellect is the most vulgar and common thing in the world, possessed by every blockhead, who, in the gratification of his passions, shows the stuff of which he is made.

The wise have always said the same things, and fools, who are the majority have always done just the opposite.

The scenes and events of long ago, and the persons who took part in them, wear a charming aspect to the eye of memory, which sees only the outlines and takes no note of disagreeable details. The present enjoys no such advantage, and so it always seems defective.

The first rule for a good style is to have something to say; in fact, this in itself is almost enough.

In the sphere of thought, absurdity and perversity remain the masters of the world, and their dominion is suspended only for brief periods.