Public opinion is the worst of all opinions.

In the library of the world men have hitherto been ranged according to the form, and the binding; the time is coming when they will take rank and order according to their contents and intrinsic merits.

Most books today seemed to have been written overnight from books read the day before.

All passions exaggerate; and they are passions only because they do exaggerate.

At the sight of what goes on in the world, the most misanthropic of men must end by being amused, and Heraclitus must die laughing.

In great matters, men behave as they are expected to; in little ones, as they would naturally

Wicked people sometimes perform good actions. I suppose they wish to see if this gives as great a feeling of pleasure as the virtuous claim for it.