We are valued in this world at the rate we desire to be valued.

The fears of old age disturb us, yet how few attain it?

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.

There is no employment in the world so laborious as that of making to one's self a great name; life ends before one has scarcely made the first rough draught of his work.

A man must have very eminent qualities to hold his own without being polite.

It seems to me that the spirit of politeness is a certain attention in causing that, by our words and by our manners, others may be content with us and with themselves.

Every hour in itself, as it respects us in particular, is the only one we can call our own.