It is in the gift for employing all the vicissitudes of life to one's own advantage and to that of one's craft that a large part of genius consists.
It is almost everywhere the case that soon after it is begotten the greater part of human wisdom is laid to rest in repositories.
It is a question whether, when we break a murderer on the wheel, we do not fall into the error a child makes when it hits the chair it has bumped into.
If you are going to build something in the air it is always better to build castles than houses of cards.
If the little bit you have is nothing special in itself, at least find a way of saying it that is a little bit special.
Just as the performance of the vilest and most wicked deeds requires spirit and talent, so even the greatest demand a certain insensitivity which under other circumstances we would call stupidity.
If all else fails, the character of a man can be recognized by nothing so surely as by a jest which he takes badly.
Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the blessings of heaven.
I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.
If people should ever start to do only what is necessary millions would die of hunger.
Just as we outgrow a pair of trousers, we outgrow acquaintances, libraries, principles, etc., at times before they're worn out and times - and this is the worst of all - before we have new ones.
Man is a masterpiece of creation if for no other reason than that, all the weight of evidence for determinism notwithstanding, he believes he has free will.
Man loves company - even if it is only that of a small burning candle.
Much can be inferred about a man from his mistress: in her one beholds his weaknesses and his dreams.
Nothing can contribute more to peace of soul than the lack of any opinion whatever.