The chief cause of our misery is less the violence of our passions than the feebleness of our virtues.

Present unhappiness is selfish; past sorrow is compassionate.

A fine quotation is a diamond in the hand of a man of wit and a pebble in the hand of a fool.

The habit of prayer communicates a penetrating sweetness to the glance, the voice, the smile, the tears,--to all one says, or does, or writes.

Say nothing good of yourself, you will be distrusted; say nothing bad of yourself, you will be taken at your word.

Conscientious men are, almost everywhere, less encouraged than tolerated.

That which deceives us and does us harm, also undeceives us and does us good.