Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.

Say what you will of fortitude, but show me the man who can patiently endure the laughter of fools when they have obtained an advantage over him. 'Tis only when their nonsense is without foundation that one can suffer it without complaint.

Nobody, they say, is a hero to his valet. Of course; for a man must be a hero to understand a hero. The valet, I dare say, has great respect for some person of his own stamp.

A correct answer is like an affectionate kiss.

Nature has neither core nor skin: she’s both at once outside and in.

Everything that frees our spirit without giving us control of ourselves is ruinous.

Distrust those in whom the desire to punish is strong.