The beating of drums, which delights young writers who serve a party, sounds to him who does not belong to the party line like a rattling of chains, and excites sympathy rather than admiration.

The universe without music would be madness.

Jealous is every virtue of the others, and a dreadful thing is jealousy. Even virtues may succumb by jealousy.

When there is a choice about it, a great sacrifice is preferable to a small sacrifice, because we compensate ourselves for a greatone with self-admiration, which is not possible with a small one.

If virtue goes to sleep, it will be more vigorous when it awakes.

Ten truths must you find during the day; otherwise will you seek truth during the night, and your soul will have been hungry.

There would be no sunshine in society if the born flatterers, I mean the so-called amiable people, did not bring it in with them.