For a man to achieve all that is demanded of him he must regard himself as greater than he is.

An absent friend gives us friendly company when we are well assured of his happiness.

Everyone only hears what he understands.

Courage and modesty are the most unequivocal of virtues, for they are of a kind that hypocrisy cannot imitate; they too have this quality in common, that they are expressed by the same color.

One is never satisfied with the portrait of a person that one knows.

Taste is only to be educated by contemplation, not of the tolerably good but of the truly excellent. I therefore show you only the best works; and when you are grounded in these, you will have a standard for the rest, which you will know how to value, without overrating them.

There are people who pay attention to the weaknesses of their friends; that is to no avail. I have always closely watched and profited from the strengths of my adversaries.