If men wish to be held in esteem, they must associate with those only who are estimable.

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

We should keep silent about those in power; to speak well of them almost implies flattery; to speak ill of them while they are alive is dangerous, and when they are dead is cowardly.

The State not seldom tolerates a comparatively great evil to keep out millions of lesser ills and inconveniences which otherwise would be inevitable and without remedy.

When we are dead we are praised by those who survive us, though we frequently have no other merit than that of being no longer alive.

We seldom repent of speaking little, very often of speaking too much: a vulgar and trite maxim, which all the world knows and, but which all the world does not practice

No man is so perfect, so necessary to his friends as to give them no cause to miss him less.