Of all things known to mortals, wine is the most powerful and effectual for exciting and inflaming the passions of mankind, being common fuel to them all.

Philosophy when superficially studied, excites doubt, when thoroughly explored, it dispels it.

A graceful and pleasing figure is a perpetual letter of recommendation.

It is natural to die as to be born.

It's always hopeless to talk about painting - one never does anything but talk around it.

Libraries are as the shrine where all the relics of the ancient saints, full of true virtue, and that without delusion or imposture, are preserved and reposed.

...neither is it possible to discover the more remote and deeper parts of any science, if you stand but upon the level of the same science, and ascend not to a higher science.