Sickness is mankind's greatest defect.

The writer who cannot sometimes throw away a thought about which another man would have written dissertations, without worry whether or not the reader will find it, will never become a great writer.

Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the blessings of heaven.

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.

Men still have to be governed by deception.

God creates the animals, man creates himself.

Deliberate virtue is never worth much: The virtue of feeling or habit is the thing.