Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of soul, impossible.

The good, supreme, divine poetry is above the rules and reason. Whoever discerns its beauty with a firm, sedate gaze does not see it, any more than he sees the splendor of a lightning flash. It does not persuade our judgement, it ravishes and overwhelms it.

Thus we should beware of clinging to vulgar opinions, and judge things by reason's way, not by popular say.

The least strained and most natural ways of the soul are the most beautiful; the best occupations are the least forced.

The laws of conscience, though we ascribe them to nature, actually come from custom.

In order always to learn something from others (which is the finest school there can be), I observe in my travels this practice: I always steer those with whom I talk back to the things they know best.

Repentance is no other than a recanting of the will, and opposition to our fancies, which lead us which way they please.