I have known some men possessed of good qualities which were very serviceable to others, but useless to themselves; like a sun-dial on the front of a house, to inform the neighbours and passengers, but not the owner within.

In all assemblies, though you wedge them ever so close, we may observe this peculiar property, that over their heads there is room enough; but how to reach it is the difficult point. To this end the philosopher's way in all ages has been by erecting certain edifices in the air.

It often happens that, if a lie be believed only for an hour, it has done its work, and there is no further occasion for it.

Cruel people are ever cowards in emergency.

The lack of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome.

If a man would register all his opinions upon love, politics, religion, learning etc., beginning from his youth, and so go to old age, what a bundle of inconsistencies and contradictions would appear at last.

Live every day as your last, because one of these days, it will be.