There is only one kind of shock worse than the totally unexpected: the expected for which one has refused to prepare.

The perpetual stream of human nature is formed into ever-changing shallows, eddies, falls and pools by the land over which it passes. Perhaps the only real value of history lies in considering this endlessly varied play between the essence and the accidents.

True friends share everything, except the past before they met.

All men seek esteem; the best by lifting themselves, which is hard to do, the rest by shoving others down, which is much easier.

What keeps the democracy alive at all but the hatred of excellence; the desire of the base to see no head higher than their own?

The rightness of a thing isn't determined by the amount of courage it takes.

Everything is change; and you cannot step twice into the same river.