Shakespeare is dangerous to young poets; they cannot but reproduce him, while they fancy that they produce themselves.

Hypotheses are the scaffolds which are erected in front of a building and removedd when the building is completed. They are indispensable to the worker; but the worker must not mistake the scaffolding for the building.

The public wishes itself to be managed like a woman; one must say nothing to it except what it likes to hear.

Beauty vanishes; virtue is lasting.

Nature does not suffer her veil to be taken from her, and what she does not choose to reveal to the spirit, thou wilt not wrest from her by levers and screws.

The hero draws inspiration from the virtue of his ancestors.

A noble man is led by woman's gentle words.