A major difficulty in translation is that a word in one language seldom has a precise equivalent in another one.

With people of limited ability modesty is merely honesty. But with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy.

A pessimist is an optimist in full possession of the facts.

Genuine contempt, on the other hand, is the unsullied conviction of the worthlessness of another.

There is only one inborn error. and that is the notion that we exist in order to be happy.

I've never known any trouble than an hour's reading didn't assuage.

Every satisfaction he attains lays the seeds of some new desire, so that there is no end to the wishes of each individual will.