There is a joy in danger.

Clearly, the pleasures wines afford are transitory - but so are those of the ballet, or of a musical performance. Wine is inspiring and adds greatly to the joy of living.

It is rare that a legislature reasons. It is too quickly impassioned.

I cannot believe there is a god who punishes and rewards, for I see honest folk unlucky, and rogues unlucky.

Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them.

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

From triumph to downfall there is but one step. I have noted that, in the most momentous occasions, mere nothings have always decided the outcome of the greatest events.