The bees pillage the flowers here and there but they make honey of them which is all their own; it is no longer thyme or marjolaine: so the pieces borrowed from others he will transform and mix up into a work all his own.

There never were, in the world, two opinions alike, no more than two hairs, or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity.

To make a crooked stick straight, we bend it the contrary way.

Our zeal works wonders, whenever it supports our inclination toward hatred, cruelty, ambition.

It would be better to have no laws at all, than to have too many.

The vulgar and common esteem is seldom happy in hitting right; and I am much mistaken if, amongst the writings of my time, the worst are not those which have most gained the popular applause.

The way of the world is to make laws, but follow custom.