Our sires' age was worse than our grandsires'. We their sons are more worthless than they: so in our turn we shall give the world a progeny yet more corrupt.

The human race afraid of nothing, rushes on through every crime.

Poets are never allowed to be mediocre by the gods, by men or by publishers.

Oh! thou who are greatly mad, deign to spare me who am less mad.

It is not permitted that we should know everything.

We are often deterred from crime by the disgrace of others.

To teach is to delight.