How great seems human progress when we consider where it began, and how insignificant, when we contemplate the goals for which itstrives.

What are the characteristics of today's world so that one may recognize it by them?" It pays pensions and borrows money: credit and monuments.

The sun of a prince's good graces resembles that in the skies in that it shines most kindly upon the blackest people.

Do hurry and proclaim the concordat. Then castrate yourselves to keep from sinning.

When receiving an order, many servants repeat their "yes" numerous times, especially the lazy ones.

Mankind is getting smarter every day. Actually, it only seems so. At least we are making progress. We're progressing, to be sure, ever more deeply into the forest.

The ideas of an age are most abundant where they are not crowded by original ideas.