Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does not agree as to the nature and importance of secrecy. Too often we consult ourselves as to what we should say, what we should leave unsaid. There are few permanent secrets, and the scruple against revealing them will not last forever.

Old age is a tyrant, who forbids, under pain of death, the pleasures of youth.

Were we not proud ourselves, we should not complain of the pride of others.

We acknowledge that we should not talk of our wives; but we seem not to know that we should talk still less of ourselves.

Intrepidity is an extraordinary strength of soul, which raises it above the troubles, disorders and emotions which the sight of great perils can arouse in it; by this strength heroes maintain a calm aspect and preserve their reason and liberty in the most surprising and terrible accidents.

The breeding we give young people is ordinarily but an additional self-love, by which we make them have a better opinion of themselves.

The generality of friends puts us out of conceit with friendship; just as the generality of religious people puts us out of conceit with religion.