Nature has made us a present of a broad capacity for entertaining ourselves apart, and often calls us to do so, to teach us that we owe ourselves in part to society, but in the best part to ourselves.

Speech belongs half to the speaker, half to the listener. The latter must prepare to receive it according to the motion it takes.

Men throw themselves on foreign assistances to spare their own, which, after all, are the only certain and sufficient ones.

Let us not be ashamed to speak what we shame not to think.

Experience teaches that a strong memory is generally joined to a weak judgment.

I have never seen a greater monster or miracle in the world than myself.

Nobody is exempt from saying stupid things, the harm is to do it presumptuously.