The only equitable manner in my opinion, of judging the character of a man is to examine if there are personal calculations in his conduct; if there are not, we may blame his manner of judging, but we are not the less bound to esteem him.
Madame de StaelThat past which is so presumptuously brought forward as a precedent for the present, was itself founded on some past that went before it.
Madame de StaelWit lies in recognizing the resemblance among things which differ and the difference between things which are alike.
Madame de Stael