The most brilliant fortunes are often not worth the littleness required to gain them.

Ideas often flash across our minds more complete than we could make them after much labor.

The courage of a great many men, and the virtue of a great many women, are the effect of vanity, shame, and especially a suitabletemperament.

True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world.

Decency is the least of all laws, but yet it is the law which is most strictly observed.

We are more interested in making others believe we are happy than in trying to be happy ourselves.

There is at least as much eloquence in the voice, eyes, and air of a speaker as in his choice of words.