We never deceive for a good purpose: knavery adds malice to falsehood.

It is a great misfortune neither to have enough wit to talk well nor enough judgment to be silent.

Eminent station makes great men more great, and little ones less.

The most exquisite pleasure is giving pleasure to others.

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.

Making a book is a craft, like making a clock; it needs more than native wit to be an author.

A wise man is not governed by others, nor does he try to govern them; he prefers that reason alone prevail.