The noblest deeds are well enough set forth in simple language; emphasis spoils them.

How sweet, how passing sweet, is solitude!

This great misfortune, to be incapable of solitude.

As riches and honor forsake a man, we discover him to be a fool, but nobody could find it out in his prosperity.

The whole genius of an author consists in describing well, and delineating character well. Homer, Plato, Virgil, Horace only excel other writers by their expressions and images; we must indicate what is true if we mean to write naturally, forcibly and delicately.

To be among people one loves, that's sufficient; to dream, to speak to them, to be silent among them, to think of indifferent things; but among them, everything is equal.

The events we most desire do not happen; or, if they do, it is neither in the time nor in the circumstances when they would have given us extreme pleasure.