Coffee, the sober drink, the mighty nourishment of the brain, which unlike other spirits, heightens purity and lucidity; coffee, which clears the clouds of the imagination and their gloomy weight; which illuminates the reality of things suddenly with the flush of truth.

Improvement depends far less upon length of tasks and hours of application than is supposed. Children can take in but a little each day; they are like vases with a narrow neck; you may pour little or pour much, but much will not enter at a time.

The historian's first duties are sacrilege and the mocking of false gods. They are his indispensable instruments for establishing the truth.

He who would confine his thought to present time will not understand present reality.

Love is strong in its passion; affection is powerful in its gentleness.

Achieving a goal is nothing. The getting there is everything.

He who knows how to be poor knows everything.