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

A book which, above all others in the world, should be forbidden, is a catalogue of forbidden books.

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.

A book is a mirror: if an ape looks into it an apostle is hardly likely to look out.

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

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

With prophecies the commentator is often a more important man than the prophet.