Truth is the foundation and the reason of the perfection of beauty, for of whatever stature a thing may be, it cannot be beautiful-and perfect, unless it be truly what it should be, and possess truly all that it should have.

The only good copies are those which make us see the absurdity of bad originals.

There are follies as catching as contagious disorders.

Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves nor take away from themselves.

A man, in order to establish himself in the world, does everything he can to appear established there.

Too great refinement is false delicacy, and true delicacy is solid refinement.

It is as easy to unknowingly deceive yourself as it is to deceive others.