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

There are certain things in which mediocrity is not to be endured, such as poetry, music, painting, public speaking.

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

The Great slight the men of wit, who have nothing but wit; the men of wit despise the Great, who have nothing but greatness; the good man pities them both, if with greatness or wit they have not virtue.

At the beginning and at the end of love, the two lovers are embarrassed to find themselves alone.

No road is to long for him who advances slowly and does not hurry and no attainment is beyond his reach who equips himself with patience to achieve it

From time to time there appear on the face of the earth men of rare and consummate excellence, who dazzle us by their virtue, and whose outstanding qualities shed a stupendous light. Like those extraordinary stars of whose origins we are ignorant, and of whose fate, once they have vanished, we know even less, such men have neither forebears nor descendants: they are the whole of their race.