Evil is easily discovered; there is an infinite variety; good is almost unique. But some kinds of evil are almost as difficult to discover as that which we call good; and often particular evil of this class passes for good. It needs even a certain greatness of soul to attain to this, as to that which is good.

The weather and my mood have little connection. I have my foggy and my fine days within me; my prosperity or misfortune has little to do with the matter.

Curiosity is nothing more than vanity. More often than not we only seek knowledge to show it off.

The only shame is to have none.

What a strange vanity painting is; it attracts admiration by resembling the original, we do not admire.

Who dispenses reputation? Who makes us respect and revere persons, works, laws, the great? Who but this faculty of imagination? All the riches of the earth are inadequate without its approval.

Passion cannot be beautiful without excess; one either loves too much or not enough.