Fame confers a rank above that of gentleman and of kings. As soon as she issues her patent of nobility, it matters not a straw whether the recipient be the son of a Bourbon or of a tallow-chandler.

Writers are the main landmarks of the past.

I would rather have five energetic and competent enemies than one fool friend.

Nothing but real love--(how rare it is; has one human heart in a million ever known it?) nothing but real love can repay us for the loss of freedom--the cares and fears of poverty--the cold pity of the world that we both despise and respect.

Ambition has no rest.

The Almighty proves his existence by creating.

In life, as in art, the beautiful moves in curves.