There is nothing more to be esteemed than a manly firmness and decision of character.

The truth is, we pamper little griefs into great ones, and bear great ones as well as we can.

Rules and models destroy genius and art.

The Princess Borghese, Bonaparte's sister, who was no saint, sat to Canova as a reclining Venus, and being asked if she did not feel a little uncomfortable, replied, "No. There was a fire in the room."

We are not satisfied to be right, unless we can prove others to be quite wrong.

A distinction has been made between acuteness and subtlety of understanding. This might be illustrated by saying that acuteness consists in taking up the points or solid atoms, subtlety in feeling the air of truth.

People are not soured by misfortune, but by the reception they meet with in it.