[H]istory assures us that civilizations decay quite leisurely.

The love we have in our youth is superficial compared to the love that an old man has for his old wife.

From barbarism to civilization requires a century; from civilization to barbarism needs but a day.

If man asks for many laws it is only because he is sure that his neighbor needs them; privately he is an unphilosophical anarchist, and thinks laws in his own case superfluous.

For you will sorely miss civilization if it is sacrificed in the turbulence of change.

To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves; let us be above such transparent egotism. If you can't say good and encouraging things, say nothing. Nothing is often a good thing to do, and always a clever thing to say.

Truth always originates in a minority of one, and every custom begins as a broken precedent.