The voice is a human sound which nothing inanimate can perfectly imitate. It has an authority and an insinuating property which writing lacks. It is not merely so much air, but air modulated and impregnated with life.

Everything that is exact is short.

What can you possibly add to a mind that's full, especially one that's full of itself.

When the painter wishes to represent an event, he cannot place before us too great a number of personages; but he cannot employ too few when he wishes to portray an emotion.

Genuine witticisms surprise those who say them as much as those who listen to them; they arise in us in spite of us, or, at least, without our participation,--like everything inspired.

Old age was naturally more honored in times when people could not know much more than what they had seen.

Who ever has no fixed opinions has no constant feelings.