New doctrines ever displease the old. They like to fancy that the world has been losing wisdom, instead of gaining it, since they were young.

We understand death only after it has placed its hands on someone we love.

Who understands much forgives much. To understand everything makes us very forgiving.

[To Bonaparte, when asked why she meddled in politics:] Sire, when women have their heads cut off, it is but just they should know the reason.

As we grow in wisdom, we pardon more freely.

Wit lies in recognizing the resemblance among things which differ and the difference between things which are alike.

Society develops wit, but its contemplation alone forms genius.