No one is discontented at not being a king except a discrowned king ... unhappiness almost invariably indicates the existence of a road not taken, a talent undeveloped, a self not recognized.

No soul of high estate can take pleasure in slander. It betrays a weakness.

If there is a God, He is infinitely incomprehensible, since, having, neither parts nor limits, He has no affinity to us. We are then incapable of knowing either what He is or if He is. [So] you must wager. Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager then without hesitation that he is.

There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.

For nature is an image of Grace, and visible miracles are images of the invisible.

The present is never the mark of our designs. We use both past and present as our means and instruments, but the future only as our object and aim.

The charm of fame is so great that we like every object to which it is attached, even death.