Every fiction since Homer has taught friendship, patriotism, generosity, contempt of death. These are the highest virtues; and the fictions which taught them were therefore of the highest, though not of unmixed, utility.

Praise is the symbol which represents sympathy, and which the mind insensibly substitutes for its recollection and language.

Whatever is popular deserves attention.

Diffused knowledge immortalizes itself.

The powers of a man's mind are directly proportional to the quantity of coffee he drank.

The wealth of society is its stock of productive labor.

The feminine graces of Madame de Sevigne's genius are exquisitely charming; but the philosophy and eloquence of Madame de Stael are above the distinction of sex.