To distract myself from tiresome thoughts, I have only to resort to books; they easily draw my mind to themselves and away from other things.
Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish people.
But sure there is need of other remedies than dreaming, a weak contention of art against nature.
There is no passion so much transports the sincerity of judgment as doth anger.
The memory represents to us not what we choose but what it pleases.
Honesty is a question of right and wrong, not a matter of policy.
God defend me from being an honest man according to the description which every day I see made by each man to his own glorification.
All general judgments are loose and imperfect.
Is it not a noble farce, where kings, republics, and emperors have for so many ages played their parts, and to which the whole vast universe serves for a theatre?
Arts and sciences are not cast in a mould, but are found and perfected by degrees, by often handling and polishing.
Report followeth not all goodness, except difficulty and rarity be joined thereto.
Plenty and indigence depend upon the opinion every one has of them; and riches, like glory of health, have no more beauty or pleasure than their possessor is pleaded to lend them.
After they had accustomed themselves at Rome to the spectacles of the slaughter of animals, they proceeded to those of the slaughter of men, to the gladiators.
There is no course of life so weak and sottish as that which is managed by order, method, and discipline.
Why did I love her? Because it was her; because it was me.
When a Roman was returning from a trip, he used to send someone ahead to let his wife know, so as not to surprise her in the act.
Nothing else but an insatiate thirst of enjoying a greedily desired object.
In plain truth, lying is an accursed vice. We are not men, nor have any other tie upon another, but by our word.
The smallest annoyances, disturb us the most.
Lying is a terrible vice, it testifies that one despises God, but fears men.