When I am attached by gloomy thoughts, nothing helps me so much as running to my books. They quickly absorb me and banish the clouds from my mind.

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

Difficulty is a coin the learned make use of like jugglers, to conceal the inanity of their art.

The finest lives in my opinion are the common model, without miracle and without extravagance.

Knowledge is an excellent drug; but no drug has virtue enough to preserve itself from corruption and decay, if the vessel be tainted and impure wherein it is put to keep.

An able reader often discovers in other people's writings perfections beyond those that the author put in or perceived, and lends them richer meanings and aspects.

The world is but a perennial movement. All things in it are in constant motion-the earth, the rocks of the Caucasus, the pyramids of Egypt-both with the common motion and with their own.