Raillery is more insupportable than wrong; because we have a right to resent injuries, but are ridiculous in being angry at a jest.

Only the contemptible fear contempt.

To awaken a man who is deceived as to his own merit is to do him as bad a turn as that done to the Athenian madman who was happy in believing that all the ships touching at the port belonged to him.

Narrow minds think nothing right that is above their own capacity.

A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates vivid, agreeable, and natural fancies, places them in their best light, clothes them with all appropriate adornments, studies others' tastes, and clears away from its own thoughts all that is useless and disagreeable.

There are fine things that are more brilliant when they are unfinished than when finished too much.

The height of ability consists in a thorough knowledge of the real value of things, and of the genius of the age in which we live.