This punishment of death is the remedy, as it were, of a sick society.

Ever since the invention of gunpowder.. I continually tremble lest men should, in the end, uncover some secret which would provide a short way of abolishing mankind, of annihilating peoples and nations in their entirety.

I have always observed that to succeed in the world one should seem a fool, but be wise.

Talent is a gift which God has given us secretly, and which we reveal without perceiving it.

If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.

The success of most things depends upon knowing how long it will take to succeed.

Vanity and pride of nations; vanity is as advantageous to a government as pride is dangerous.