Only yesterday I was full of worldly fancies, although religion had already some share in my thoughts: glory was still my daydream. Today my hopes are higher, and I covet here below nothing but obscurity and peace.

The mind sees, the will commands, the man acts. What is it then to act? To act is to produce something. If you have produced nothing--if no result has been the fruit of your will, you have done nothing.

Nothing is achieved without solitude.

It is not genius, nor glory, nor love that reflects the greatness of the human soul; it is kindness.

Only three things are necessary to make life happy: the blessing of God, books , and a friend.

After speech, silence is the greatest power in the world.

In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds down, and the law which liberates.