Many laws as certainly make men bad, as bad men make many laws.

I never did a single wise thing in the whole course of my existence, although I have written many which have been thought so.

Truth, like the juice of the poppy, in small quantities, calms men; in larger, heats and irritates them, and is attended by fatal consequences in excess.

Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven.

It is delightful to kiss the eyelashes of the beloved--is it not? But never so delightful as when fresh tears are on them.

A little praise is good for a shy temper; it teaches it to rely on the kindness of others.

We fancy that our afflictions are sent us directly from above; sometimes we think it in piety and contrition, but oftener in moroseness and discontent.