All general judgments are loose and imperfect

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.

When I was young, beautiful ancient statues were castrated, so that the eye might not be corrupted.... Nothing was gained, unless horses and asses had also been castrated.

The most ordinary things, the most common and familiar, if we could see them in their true light, would turn out to be the grandest miracles.

If you press me to say why I loved him, I can say no more than it was because he was he, and I was I.

Pride dwells in the thought; the tongue can have but a very little share in it.

He loves little who loves by rule.