An orator can hardly get beyond commonplaces: if he does he gets beyond his hearers.

Our notions with respect to the importance of life, and our attachment to it, depend on a principle which has very little to do with its happiness or its misery. The love of life is, in general, the effect not of our enjoyments, but of our passions.

The definition of genius is that it acts unconsciously, and those who have produced immortal works have done so without knowing how or why.

Love turns, with a little indulgence, to indifference or disgust; hatred alone is immortal.

To think ill of mankind and not wish ill to them, is perhaps the highest wisdom and virtue.

Honesty is one part of eloquence. We persuade others by being in earnest ourselves.

The essence of poetry is will and passion.