Men show their character in nothing more clearly than what they think laughable.

Yet through delivery orators succeed, I feel that I am far behind indeed.

Generally speaking, an author's style is a faithful copy of his mind. If you would write a lucid style, let there first be light in your own mind; and if you would write a grand style, you ought to have a grand character.

In happy ignorance, I sighed for a world I did not know, where I hoped to find every pleasure and enjoyment which my heart could desire; and now, on my return from that wide world... how many disappointed hopes and unsuccessful plans have I brought back!

Let us live in as small a circle as we will, we are either debtors or creditors before we have had time to look around.

Man supposes that he directs his life and governs his actions, when his existence is irretrievably under the control of destiny

Keep not standing fixed and rooted. Briskly venture, briskly roam.