A man must live in the world and make the best of it, such as it is.

Greatness of soul consists not so much in soaring high and in pressing forward, as in knowing how to adapt and limit oneself.

Some men seem remarkable to the world in whom neither their wives nor their valets saw anything extraordinary. Few men have been admired by their servants.

Wisdom has its excesses, and has no less need of moderation than folly.

I want to be seen here in my simple, natural, ordinary fashion, without straining or artifice; for it is myself that I portray... I am myself the matter of my book.

A man must learn to endure patiently what he cannot avoid conveniently.

Taking it all in all, I find it is more trouble to watch after money than to get it.