One should choose for a wife only such a woman as he would choose for a friend, were she a man.

The essence of life consists in thinking, and being conscious of one's soul.

The God of metaphysics is but an idea. But the God of religion, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sovereign Judge of actions and thoughts, is a power.

In really good acting we should be able to believe that what we hear and see is of our own imagining; it should seem to be to us as a charming dream.

There are people who are virtuous only in a piece-meal way; virtue is a fabric from which they never make themselves a whole garment.

It is an aspect of all happiness to suppose that we deserve it.

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.