The public weal requires that men should betray, and lie, and massacre.

Friendship is the highest degree of perfection in society.

But as Nature is the best guide, teaching must be the development of natural inclinations, for which purpose the teacher must watch his pupil and listen to him, not continually bawl words into his ears as if pouring water into a funnel. Good teaching will come from a mind well made rather than well filled.

We can be knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.

Every place swarms with commentaries; of authors there is great scarcity.

Petty vexations may at times be petty, but still they are vexations. The smallest and most inconsiderable annoyances are the most piercing. As small letters weary the eye most, so the smallest affairs disturb us most.

Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.