We easily enough confess in others an advantage of courage, strength, experience, activity, and beauty; but an advantage in judgment we yield to none.

How often our involuntary facial motions testify to the thoughts we were keeping secret, and betray us to those around!

Laws are often made by fools, and even more often by men who fail in equity because they hate equality: but always by men, vain authorities who can resolve nothing.

Nor is it enough to toughen up his soul; you must also toughen up his muscles.

Eloquence is an engine invented to manage and wield at will the fierce democracy, and, like medicine to the sick, is only employed in the paroxysms of a disordered state.

There is no desire more natural than the desire of knowledge. (Il n'est desir plus naturel que le desir de connaissance)

And I loathe people who find it harder to put up with a gown askew than with a soul askew and who judge a man by his bow, his bearing and his boots.