It is in vain that we get upon stilts, for once on them, it is still with our legs that we must walk. And on the highest throne in the world we are still sitting on our own ass.

Wine is the benevolent god, who gives back gaiety to men and restores youth to the old.

Since I would rather make of him an able man than a learned man, I would also urge that care be taken to choose a guide with a well-made rather than a well-filled head.

Necessity is a violent school-mistress.

I must use these great men's virtues as a cloak for my weakness.

To distract myself from tiresome thoughts, I have only to resort to books; they easily draw my mind to themselves and away from other things.

It is easier to sacrifice great than little things.