There exists a species of transcendental ventriloquism by means of which men can be made to believe that something said on earth comes from Heaven.

Honest unaffected distrust of human abilities under all circumstances is the surest sign of strength of mind.

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

The sure conviction that we could if we wanted to is the reason so many good minds are idle.

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.

He was then in his fifty-fourth year, when even in the case of poets reason and passion begin to discuss a peace treaty and usually conclude it not very long afterwards.

With a pen in my hand I have successfully stormed bulwarks from which others armed with sword and excommunication have been repulsed.