A philosopher must be more than a philosopher.

Manners are the happy ways of doing things; each once a stroke of genius or of love, now repeated and hardened into usage.

Fine manners need the support of fine manners in others.

Europe has always owed to oriental genius its divine impulses. What these holy bards said, all sane men found agreeable and true.

The lover of letters loves power too.

I dip my pen in the blackest ink, because I'm not afraid of falling into my inkpot.

The glance is natural magic. The mysterious communication established across a house between two entire strangers, moves all the springs of wonder.