God often visits us, but most of the time we are not at home.

What is slander? A verdict of "guilty" pronounced in the absence of the accused, with closed doors, without defence or appeal, by an interested and prejudiced judge.

The folly which we might have ourselves committed is the one which we are least ready to pardon in another.

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

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

Great souls are harmonious.

Present unhappiness is selfish; past sorrow is compassionate.