[Science is] the desire to know causes.

Human life may be regarded as a succession of frontispieces. The way to be satisfied is never to look back.

Anyone is to be pitied who has just sense enough to perceive his deficiencies.

The player envies only the player, the poet envies only the poet.

The insolence of the vulgar is in proportion to their ignorance. They treat everything with contempt which they do not understand.

There are only three pleasures in life pure and lasting, and all derived from inanimate things-books, pictures and the face of nature.

Hope is the best possession. None are completely wretched but those who are without hope. Few are reduced so low as that.