I believe that there never was a creator of a philosophical system who did not confess at the end of his life that he had wasted his time. It must be admitted that the inventors of the mechanical arts have been much more useful to men that the inventors of syllogisms. He who imagined a ship towers considerably above him who imagined innate ideas.

A minister of state is excusable for the harm he does when the helm of government has forced his hand in a storm; but in the calm he is guilty of all the good he does not do.

Luxury has been railed at for two thousand years, in verse and in prose, and it has always been loved.

This is no time to be making new enemies.

A small number of choice books are sufficient.

Chess is a game which reflects most honor on human wit.

The only reward to be expected from literature is contempt if one fails and hatred if one succeeds.