In the matter of dress one should always keep below one's ability.

It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.

I should like to abolish funerals; the time to mourn a person is at his birth, not his death.

It is clear that in a monarchy, where he who commands the exceution of the laws generally thinks himself above them, there is lessneed of virtue than in a popular government, where the person entrusted with the execution of the laws is sensible of his being subject to their direction.

If one only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier that other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are. you are comparing your lot with an ideal which is of course better and therefore you feel worse

The life of man is but a succession of vain hopes and groundless fears.

I shall be obliged to wander to the right and to the left, that I may investigate and discover the truth.