Whatever we think out, whatever we take in hand to do, should be perfectly and finally finished, that the world, if it must alter, will only have to spoil it; we have then nothing to do but unite the severed, to recollect and restore the dismembered.

It is in human nature to relax, when not compelled by personal advantage or disadvantage.

Where the light is brightest, the shadows are deepest.

Every bird has its decoy, and every man is led and misled in his own peculiar way.

One must not criticize that which is common since it remains always the same.

If a good person does you wrong, act as though you had not noticed it. If we practice and eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, soon the wholeworld will be blind and toothless.

The human race is a monotonous affair. Most people spend the greatest part of their time working in order to live, and what little freedom remains so fills them with fear that they seek out any and every means to be rid of it.