It is far pleasanter to injure and afterwards beg forgiveness than to be injured and grant forgiveness. He who does the former gives evidence of power and afterwards of kindness of character.

In art the end does not sanctify the means: but sacred means employed here can sanctify the end.

Systems of morals are only a sign-language of the emotions.

It is a terrible thought, to contemplate that an immense number of mediocre thinkers are occupied with really influential matters.

Whether in conversation we generally agree or disagree with others is largely a matter of habit: the one tendency makes as much sense as the other.

Let thy virtue be too high for the familiarity of names, and if thou must speak of it, be not ashamed to stammer about it.

The strongest knowledge (that of the total freedom of the human will) is nonetheless the poorest in successes: for it always has the strongest opponent, human vanity.