We must learn to suffer what we cannot evade; our life, like the harmony of the world, is composed of contrary things, and one part is no less necessary than the other.

We are more unhappy to see people ahead of us than happy to see people behind us.

In my opinion, the most fruitful and natural play of the mind is conversation. I find it sweeter than any other action in life; and if I were forced to choose, I think I would rather lose my sight than my hearing and voice. The study of books is a drowsy and feeble exercise which does not warm you up.

In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only like doing him good better than having him do me good, but also would rather have him do good to himself than to me; he does me most good when he does himself good.

The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.

Virtue rejects facility to be her companion. She requires a craggy, rough and thorny way.

I seek in the reading of books, only to please myself, by an honest diversion.