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.

If content with himself and mankind, a man is never harsh or curt.

Men are ready to suffer anything from others or from heaven itself, provided that, when it comes to words, they are untouched.

Man is almost always as wicked as his needs require.

In all climates, under all skies, man's happiness is always somewhere else.

Everything since Homer has improved, except poetry.

He who has the courage to laugh is almost as much a master of the world as he who is ready to die.