Above all things expand the frontiers of science: without this the rest counts for nothing.

The greatest events occur without intention playing any part in them; chance makes good mistakes and undoes the most carefully planned undertaking. The world's greatest events are not produced, they happen.

The Greeks possessed a knowledge of human nature we seem hardly able to attain to without passing through the strengthening hibernation of a new barbarism.

We have no words for speaking of wisdom to the stupid. He who understands the wise is wise already.

It is almost everywhere the case that soon after it is begotten the greater part of human wisdom is laid to rest in repositories.

The great rule: If the little bit you have is nothing special in itself, at least find a way of saying it that is a little bit special.

One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything.