Mystical explanations are thought to be deep; the truth is that they are not even shallow.

You must be born for your physician, otherwise you are bound to perish because of your physician.

The sensible author writes for no other posterity than his own--that is, for his age--so as to be able even then to take pleasurein himself.

A joke is an epigram on the death of a feeling.

Books for general reading always smell bad; the odor of common people hangs around them.

The thirst for equality can express itself either as a desire to draw everyone down to one's level, or to raise oneself and everyone else up.

Danger alone acquaints us with our own resources, our virtues, our armor and weapons, our spirit, and forces us to be strong.