The worse of ingratitude lies not in the ossified heart of him who commits it, but we find it in the effect it produces on him against whom it was committed.

There is delight in singing, though none hear beside the singer.

He who brings ridicule to bear against truth finds in his hand a blade without a hilt.

As there are some flowers which you should smell but slightly to extract all that is pleasant in them ... so there are some men with whom a slight acquaintance is quite sufficient to draw out all that is agreeable; a more intimate one would be unsafe and unsatisfactory.

Kings play at war unfairly with republics; they can only lose some earth, and some creatures they value as little, while republics lose in every soldier a part of themselves.

We oftener say things because we can say them well, than because they are sound and reasonable.

We may receive so much light as not to see, and so much philosophy as to be worse than foolish.