No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others.

What life half gives a man, posterity gives entirely.

When I make a mistake everyone can see it, but not when I lie.

It seems to never occur to fools that merit and good fortune are closely united.

Men are so inclined to content themselves with what is commonest; the spirit and the senses so easily grow dead to the impressions of the beautiful and perfect, that every one should study, by all methods, to nourish in his mind the faculty of feeling these things. ...For this reason, one ought every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.

Every individual who is not creative has a negative, narrow, exclusive taste and succeeds in depriving creative being of its energy and life.

Some people spend the day in complaining of a headache, and the night in drinking the wine that gives it.