Even those who write against fame wish for the fame of having written well, and those who read their works desire the fame of having read them.

Imagination cannot make fools wise, but it makes them happy, as against reason, which only makes its friends wretched: one covers them with glory, the other with shame.

Noble deeds that are concealed are most esteemed.

Silence is the greatest persecution; never do the saints keep themselves silent.

We must keep our thought secret, and judge everything by it, while talking like the people.

Man is full of desires: he loves only those who can satisfy them all. "This man is a good mathematician," someone will say. But I have no concern for mathematics; he would take me for a proposition. "That one is a good soldier." He would take me for a besieged town. I need, that is to say, a decent man who can accommodate himself to all my desires in a general sort of way.

Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with your power; And little things as though they were great, since I do them in your name!