Man is quite insane. He wouldn?t know how to create a maggot, and he creates Gods by the dozen.

Is it not a noble farce, wherein kings, republics, and emperors have for so many ages played their parts, and to which the whole vast universe serves for a theatre?

Who is it that does not voluntarily exchange his health, his repose, and his very life for reputation and glory? The most useless, frivolous, and false coin that passes current among us.

Unless a man feels he has a good enough memory, he should never venture to lie.

True freedom is to have power over oneself for everything.

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

There is nothing which so poisons princes as flattery, nor anything whereby wicked men more easily obtain credit and favor with them.