To make judgements about great and lofty things, a soul of the same stature is needed; otherwise we ascribe to them that vice which is our own.

To how many blockheads of my time has a cold and taciturn demeanor procured the credit of prudence and capacity!

I have often seen people uncivil by too much civility, and tiresome in their courtesy.

I leaf through books, I do not study them. What I retain of them is something I no longer recognize as anyone else's.

I find that the best virtue I have has in it some tincture of vice.

Decency, not to dare to do that in public which it is decent enough to do in private.

The strength of any plan depends on the time. Circumstances and things eternally shift and change.