The generality of men are so bound within the sphere of their circumstances that they have not even the courage to get out of them through their ideas, and if we see a few whom, in a way, speculation over great things makes incapable of mean ones, we find still more with whom the practice of small things takes away the feeling for great ones.

The favorites of fortune or of fame topple from their pedestals before our eyes without diverting us from ambition.

All that causes one man to differ from another is a very slight thing. What is it that is the origin of beauty or ugliness, health or weakness, ability or stupidity? A slight difference in the organs, a little more or a little less bile. Yet this more or less is of infinite importance to men; and when they think otherwise they are mistaken.

When we feel that we lack whatever is needed to secure someone else's esteem, we are very close to hating him

Men crowd into honorable careers without other vocation than their vanity, or at best their love of fame.

The fruit derived from labor is the sweetest of pleasures.

It is not in everyone's power to secure wealth, office, or honors; but everyone may be good, generous, and wise.