That profound firmness which enabler a man to regard difficulties but as evils to be surmounted, no matter what shape they may assume.

Sensibility would be a good portress if she had but one hand; with her right she opens the door to pleasure, but with her left to pain.

The greatest friend of truth is Time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion is Humility.

Avarice begets more vices than Priam did children and like Priam survives them all. It starves its keeper to surfeit those who wish him dead, and makes him submit to more mortifications to lose heaven than the martyr undergoes to gain it.

Silence is less injurious than a weak reply.

God will excuse our prayers for ourselves whenever we are prevented from them by being occupied in such good works as to entitle us to the prayers of others.

Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen. Like friends, too, we should return to them again and again for, like true friends, they will never fail us - never cease to instruct - never cloy.