Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
Genius speaks only to genius.
None are rash when they are not seen by anybody.
He who fears death dies every time he thinks of it.
Gaiety is the soul's health; sadness is its poison.
To believe with certainty, we must begin with doubting.
Where religion speaks, reason has only a right to hear.
We rise to fortune by successive steps; we descend by only one.
Science when well-digested is nothing but good sense and reason.
Conscience warns us as a friend before it punishes us as a judge.
Nothing but religion is capable of changing pains into pleasures.
To be vain of one's rank or place is to show that one is below it.
Religion has nothing more to fear than not being sufficiently understood.
The earliest desire of succeeding is almost always a prognostic of success.
Misers are very kind people: they amass wealth for those who wish their death.
Is it not astonishing that the love of repose keeps us in continual agitation?
How many persons fancy they have experience simply because they have grown old!
The instability of our tastes is the occasion of the irregularity of our lives.
It is having in some measure a sort of wit to know how to use the wit of others.
Those who ought to be secure from calumny are generally those who avoid it least.
The strong desire for success is the best indication that you can achieve success.
Have the courage to face a difficulty lest it kick you harder than you bargain for.
In all sorts of government man is made to believe himself free, and to be in chains.
Can princes born in palaces be sensible of the misery of those who dwell in cottages?
We are usually mistaken in esteeming men too much; rarely in esteeming them too little.
Some like to understand what they believe in. Others like to believe in what they understand.
When the truth offends no one it should come from our lips as naturally as the air we breathe.
Affectation discovers sooner what one is than it makes known what one would fain appear to be.
Reason shows us our duty; he who can make us love our duty is more powerful than reason itself.
I believe, indeed, that it is more laudable to suffer great misfortunes than to do great things.
I know no real worth but that tranquil firmness which seeks dangers by duty, and braves them without rashness.
The Word of God proves the truth of religion; the corruption of man, its necessity; government, its advantages.
Esteem has more engaging charms than friendship, or even love. It captivates hearts better, and never makes ings.
There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good-breeding.
It is hardly possible to suspect another without having in one's self the seeds of baseness the party is accused of.
To make good use of life, one should have in youth the experience of advanced years, and in old age the vigor of youth.
There are few persons of greater worth than their reputation; but how many are there whose worth is far short of their reputation!
Politeness has been defined to be artificial good-nature; but we may affirm, with much greater propriety, that good-nature is natural politeness.
A well-read fool is the most pestilent of blockheads; his learning is a flail which he knows not how to handle, and with which he breaks his neighbor's shins as well as his own. Keep a fellow of this description at arm's length, as you value the integrity of your bones.