It often happens that things come into the mind in a more finished form than could have been achieved after much study.

We label judges with having the meanest motives, and yet we desire that our reputation and fame should depend upon the judgment of men, who are all, either from their jealousy or preoccupation or want of intelligence, opposed to us - and yet despite their bias, just for the sake of making these men decide in our favor, we peril in so many ways both our peace and our life.

There is merit without rank, but there is no rank without some merit.

Those who are themselves incapable of great crimes are ever backward to suspect others.

Great and glorious events which dazzle the beholder are represented by politicians as the outcome of grand designs whereas they are usually products of temperaments and passions.

There are certain people fated to be fools; they not only commit follies by choice, but are even constrained to do so by fortune.

What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one.