Young people are dazzled by the brilliancy of antithesis, and employ it. Matter-of-fact men, and those who like precision, naturally fall into comparisons and metaphor. Sprightly natures, full of fire, and whom a boundless imagination carries beyond all rules, and even what is reasonable, cannot rest satisfied even with hyperbole. As for the sublime, it is only great geniuses and those of the very highest order that are able to rise to its height.

We seldom repent talking little, but very often talking too much.

It is the glory and merit of some men to write well and of others not to write at all.

A vain man finds it wise to speak good or ill of himself; a modest man does not talk of himself.

Born merely for the purpose of digestion.

There is as much trickery required to grow rich by a stupid book as there is folly in buying it.

Make me chaste and To what excesses will men not go for the sake of a religion in which they believe so little and which they practice so imperfectly!