It is highly convenient to believe in the infinite mercy of God when you feel the need of mercy, but remember also his infinite justice.

The safest principle through life, instead of reforming others, is to set about perfecting yourself.

There must be more malice than love in the hearts of all wits.

No man, perhaps, is so wicked as to commit evil for its own sake. Evil is generally committed under the hope of some advantage the pursuit of virtue seldom obtains. Yet the most successful result of the most virtuous heroism is never without its alloy.

Art is a reality, not a definition; inasmuch as it approaches a reality, it approaches perfection, and inasmuch as it approaches a mere definition, it is imperfect and untrue.

Nothing is difficult; it is only we who are indolent.

It is better to make friends than adversaries of a conquered race.