Food probably has a very great influence on the condition of men. Wine exercises a more visible influence, food does it more slowly but perhaps just as surely. Who knows if a well-prepared soup was not responsible for the pneumatic pump or a poor one for a war?

Much can be inferred about a man from his mistress: in her one beholds his weaknesses and his dreams.

Never undertake anything unless you have the heart to ask Heaven's blessing on your undertaking.

Most subjects at universities are taught for no other purpose than that they may be re-taught when the students become teachers.

Good taste is either that which agrees with my taste or that which subjects itself to the rule of reason. From this we can see how useful it is to employ reason in seeking out the laws of taste.

To receive applause for works which do not demand all our powers hinders our advance towards a perfecting of our spirit. It usually means that thereafter we stand still.

A handful of soldiers is always better than a mouthful of arguments.