What a person praises is perhaps a surer standard, even than what he condemns, of his own character, information and abilities.

It is well for us that we are born babies in intellect. Could we understand half what mothers say and do to their infants, we should be filled with a conceit of our own importance, which would render us insupportable through life.

What hypocrites we seem to be whenever we talk of ourselves! Our words sound so humble, while our hearts are so proud.

The ancients dreaded death: the Christian can only fear dying.

Friendship is love without its flowers or veil.

The question is not whether a doctrine is beautiful but whether it is true. When we wish to go to a place, we do not ask whether the road leads through a pretty country, but whether it is the right road.

Crimes sometimes shock us too much; vices almost always too little.