Men are like Geneva watches with crystal faces, which expose the whole movement.

There is a mortifying experience in particular, which does not fail to wreak itself also in the general history; I mean "the foolish face of praise," the forced smile which we put on in company where we do not feel at ease, in answer to conversation which does not interest us. The muscles, not spontaneously moved but moved, by a low usurping wilfulness, grow tight about the outline of the face, with the most disagreeable sensation.

A few strong instincts and a few plain rules suffice us

...man is an analogist, and studies relations in all objects. He is placed in the center of beings, and a ray of relation passes from every other being to him. And neither can man be understood without these objects, nor these objects without man.

Each philosopher, each bard, each actor has only done for me, as by a delegate, what one day I can do for myself.

The foundations of a person are not in matter but in spirit.

The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship