The poor man wishes to conceal his poverty, and the rich man his wealth: the former fears lest he be despised, the latter lest he be plundered.

In youth we learn; in age we understand.

We ask the poet: 'What subject have you chosen?' instead of: 'What subject has chosen you?

Happy slaves are the bitterest enemies of freedom.

Those who know nothing must believe everything.

With our parents we bury our past, with our children our future.

Hatred is a prolific vice; envy, a barren vice.