A great chess-player is not a great man, for he leaves the world as he found it. No act terminating in itself constitutes greatness. This will apply to all displays of power or trials of skill, which are confined to the momentary, individual effort, and construct no permanent image or trophy of themselves without them

Political truth is libel; religious truth, blasphemy.

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.

If the world were good for nothing else, it is a fine subject for speculation.

The soil of friendship is worn out with constant use. Habit may still attach us to each other, but we feel ourselves fettered by it. Old friends might be compared to old married people without the tie of children.

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

A man's reputation is not in his own keeping, but lies at the mercy of the profligacy of others. Calumny requires no proof.