One should conquer the world, not to enthrone a man, but an idea; for ideas exist forever.

Damn your principles! Stick to your party.

I have begun several times many things, and I have often succeeded at last.

There is no act of treachery or meanness of which a political party is not capable; for in politics there is no honour.

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

The Greeks adored their gods by the simple compliment of kissing their hands; and the Romans were treated as atheists if they would not perform the same act when they entered a temple. This custom, however, as a religious ceremony declined with paganism,but was continued as a salutation by inferiors to their superiors, or as a token of esteem among friends.

He thinks posterity is a pack-horse, always ready to be loaded.