In the fine arts, as in many other things, we know well only what we have not learned.

A man without nobility cannot have kindliness; he can only have good nature.

Covetousness is a sort of mental gluttony, not confined to money, but craving honor, and feeding on selfishness.

Women see faults much more readily in each other than they can discover perfections.

There is no history worthy attention save that of free nations; the history of nations under the sway of despotism is no more than a collection of anecdotes.

Bachelors' wives and old maids' children are always perfect.

Calumny is like the wasp which worries you, and which it is not best to try to get rid of unless you are sure of slaying it; for otherwise it returns to the charge more furious than ever.