There is, in all great poets, a wisdom of humanity which is superior to any talents they exercise.

For all men live by truth, and stand in need of expression. In love, in art, in avarice, in politics, in labor, in games, we study to utter our painful secret. The man is only half himself, the other half is his expression.

Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events.

Heaven sometimes hedges a rare character about with ungainliness and odium, as the burr that protects the fruit.

Fate is unpenetrated causes.

As much wisdom may be expended on a private economy as on an empire, and as much wisdom may be drawn from it.

Insist on your life, never imitate... do that which is assigned to you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much.