A tall, well-built man with a deep chest and broad shoulders can carry a heavy burden with ease and unconcern, and still keep one hand free; a dwarf would be crushed by half that weight. Thus lofty posts make great men greater still, and small men much smaller.

Out of difficulties grow miracles.

There are few wives so perfect as not to give their husbands at least once a day good reason to repent of ever having married, or at least of envying those who are unmarried.

Pure friendship is something which men of an inferior intellect can never taste.

When we are young we lay up for old age; when we are old we save for death.

A modest man never talks of himself.

Making a book is a craft, like making a clock; it needs more than native wit to be an author.