The prudent person may direct a state, but it is the enthusiast who regenerates or ruins it

What men want is not talent, it is purpose; in other words, not the power to achieve, but the will to labor.

Imitation, if noble and general, insures the best hope of originality.

When the soul communes with itself the lip is silent.

When a man is not amused, he feels an involuntary contempt for those who are.

The fewer blows, the better. Brave men fight if they must; wise men never fight if they can help it.

Youth is in danger until it learns to look upon debts as furies.