Folly disgusts us less by her ignorance than pedantry by her learning.

A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we are never more deceived than when we mistake gravity for greatness, solemnity for science, and pomposity for erudition.

Women that are the least bashful are often the most modest.

Philosophy is a goddess, whose head indeed is in heaven, but whose feet are upon earth; she attempts more than she accomplishes, and promises more than she performs.

Levity is often less foolish and gravity less wise than each of them appears.

To be obliged to beg our daily happiness from others bespeaks a more lamentable poverty than that of him who begs his daily bread.

In all places, and in all times, those religionists who have believed too much have been more inclined to violence and persecution than those who have believed too little.