Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.

The world is weary of statesmen whom democracy has degraded into politicians.

Nine-tenths of existing books are nonsense, and the clever books are the refutation of that nonsense.

Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit.

All must respect those who respect themselves.

Those who cannot themselves observe can at least acquire the observation of others.

In the study of the fine arts, they mutually assist each other.