It is when their age of passions is past that great men produce their masterpieces, just as it is after volcanic eruptions that the soil is most fertile.

Only the history of free peoples is worth our attention; the history of men under a despotism is merely a collection of anecdotes.

There are more fools than wise men, and even in a wise man there is more folly than wisdom.

We need to be just before we are generous, as we need shirts before ruffles.

Too elevated qualities often unfit a man for society. We do not go to market with ingots, but with silver and small change.

A lover is a man who tries to be more amiable than it is possible for him to be.

His passions make man live, his wisdom merely makes him last.