The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe.

There is perhaps no more obvious vanity than to write of it so vainly.

Authors communicate with the people by some special extrinsic mark; I am the first to do so by my entire being, as Michel de Montaigne.

All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.

In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only like doing him good better than having him do me good, but also would rather have him do good to himself than to me; he does me most good when he does himself good.

A strong memory is commonly coupled with infirm judgment.

In nine lifetimes, you'll never know as much about your cat as your cat knows about you.