A father is very miserable who has no other hold on his children's affection than the need they have of his assistance, if that can be called affection.

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.

The soul that has no established aim loses itself

Man will rise, if God by exception lends him a hand; he will rise by abandoning and renouncing his own means, and letting himselfbe raised and uplifted by purely celestial means.

Silence and modesty are very valuable qualities in conversation.

The clatter of arms drowns out the voice of law.

Speaking is half his that speaks, and half his that hears.