The first distinction among men, and the first consideration that gave one precedence over another, was doubtless the advantage of beauty.

In plain truth, lying is an accursed vice. We are not men, nor have any other tie upon another, but by our word.

Whenever a new discovery is reported to the world, they say first, It is probably not true, Then after, when the truth of the new proposition has been demonstrated beyond question, they say, Yes, it may be true, but it is not important. Finally, when sufficient time has elapsed to fully evidence its importance, they say, Yes, surely it is important, but it is no longer new.

Every period of life has its peculiar prejudices; whoever saw old age, that did not applaud the past, and condemn the present times?

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.

I do not believe, from what I have been told about this people, that there is anything barbarous or savage about them, except that we all call barbarous anything that is contrary to our own habits.

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