It is in times of difficulty that great nations like great men display the whole energy of their character and become an object of admiration to posterity.

A good sketch is better than a long speech.

If we could read the past histories of all our enemies we would disregard all hostility for them.

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.

The only way to lead people is to show them a future: a leader is a dealer in hope.

What is the future? What is the past? What are we? What is the magic fluid that surrounds us and conceals the things we most need to know? We live and die in the midst of marvels.

Malice delights to blacken the characters of prominent men.