The thought that really crushes us is the thought of the futility of life of which death is the visible manifestation.

I find it awfully difficult to determine if the habit of talking about oneself at length runs contrary to the basic rules of propriety, or if instead the man exempt from this vice is rare.

Real misanthropes are not found in solitude, but in the world; since it is experience of life, and not philosophy, which produces real hatred of mankind.

Death is not evil, for it frees man from all ills and takes away his desires along with desire's rewards.

The world laughs at things it would really prefer to admire, and like Aesop's fox it criticizes things it covets.

The artist's conception of his art or the scientist's of his science is usually as great as his conception of his own worth is small.

The greater part of the people we assign to educate our sons we know for certain are not educated. Yet we do not doubt that they can give what they have not received, a thing which cannot be otherwise acquired.