The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.

To praise great actions with sincerity may be said to be taking part in them.

The desire to be thought clever often prevents a man from becoming so.

There are people who would never have been in love, had they never heard love spoken of.

We often make use of envenomed praise, that reveals on the rebound, as it were, defects in those praised which we dare not exposeany other way.

Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance.

Hope and fear are inseparable.