Against criticism a man can neither protest nor defend himself; he must act in spite of it, and then it will gradually yield to him.

Look closely at those who patronize you. Half are unfeeling, half untaught.

Mastery is often taken for egotism.

A well-bred carriage is difficult to imitate; for in strictness it is negative, and it implies a long-continued previous training.

No matter what one says, you can recognize only those matters that are equal to you. Only rulers who possess extraordinary abilities will recognize and esteem properly extraordinary abilities in their subjects and servants.

There is nothing more frightful than for a teacher to know only what his scholars are intended to know.

What is predestination? Answer: God is more powerful and wiser than we are, therefore he deals with us according to his pleasure.