If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses.

Mankind? That is an abstraction. There have always been and always will be only individuals.

Some books seem to have been written, not to teach us anything, but to let us know that the author has known something.

Some of our weaknesses are born in us, others are the result of education; it is a question which of the two gives us most trouble.

I consider him of no account who esteems himself just as the popular breath may chance to raise him.

When young, one is confident to be able to build palaces for mankind, but when the time comes one has one's hands full just to be able to remove their trash.

No skill or art is needed to grow old; the trick is to endure it.