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

If we have not peace within ourselves, it is in vain to seek it from outward sources.

One kind of happiness is to know exactly at what point to be miserable.

Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.

Whatever discoveries we may have made in the regions of self-love, there still remain many unknown lands.

As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.

Our repentances are generally not so much a concern and remorse for the harm we have done, as a fear of the harm we may have brought upon ourselves.