I aim here only at revealing myself, who will perhaps be different tomorrow, if I learn something new which changes me.

Whenever a new finding is reported to the world people say - It is probably not true. Later on, when the reliability of a new finding has been fully confirmed, people say - OK, it may be true but it has no real significance. At last, when even the significance of the finding is obvious to everybody, people say - Well, it might have some significance, but the idea is not new.

Rejoice in the things that are present; all else is beyond thee.

Stupidity and wisdom meet in the same centre of sentiment and resolution, in the suffering of human accidents.

And therefore, Reader, I myself am the subject of my book: it is not reasonable that you should employ your leisure on a topic so frivolous and so vain. Therefore, Farewell.

For table-talk, I prefer the pleasant and witty before the learned and the grave; in bed, beauty before goodness.

Great authors, when they write about causes, adduce not only those they think are true but also those they do not believe in, provided they have some originality and beauty. They speak truly and usefully enough if they speak ingeniously.