People take England on trust, and repeat that Shakespeare is the greatest of all authors. I have read him: there is nothing that compares Racine or Corneille: his plays are unreadable, pitiful.

Champagne! In victory, one deserves it; in defeat one needs it.

There is one kind of robber whom the law does not strike at, and who steals what is most precious to men: time.

The best way to make every one poor is to insist on equality of wealth.

A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights.

Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

One is more certain to influence men, to produce more effect on them, by absurdities than by sensible ideas.