The wise man should withdraw his soul within, out of the crowd, and keep it in freedom and power to judge things freely; but as for externals, he should wholly follow the accepted fashions and forms.

The pleasantest things in the world are pleasant thoughts, and the great art of life is to have as many of them as possible.

We are more unhappy to see people ahead of us than happy to see people behind us.

What harm cause not those huge draughts or pictures which wanton youth with chalk or coals draw in each passage, wall or stairs of our great houses, whence a cruel contempt of our natural store is bred in them?

Every movement reveals us.

Life in itself is neither good nor evil, it is the place of good and evil, according to what you make it.

When all is summed up, a man never speaks of himself without loss; his accusations of himself are always believed; his praises never.