He who can wait for what he desires takes the course not to be exceedingly grieved if he fails of it; he, on the contrary, who labors after a thing too impatiently thinks the success when it comes is not a recompense equal to all the pains he has been at about it.

There is a false modesty, which is vanity; a false glory, which is levity; a false grandeur, which is meanness; a false virtue, which is hypocrisy, and a false wisdom, which is prudery.

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

There are some extraordinary fathers, who seem, during the whole course of their lives, to be giving their children reasons for being consoled at their death.

How sweet, how passing sweet, is solitude!

Everything has been said, and we have come too late, now that men have been living and thinking for seven thousand years and more.

Time makes friendship stronger, but love weaker.