He was then in his fifty-fourth year, when even in the case of poets reason and passion begin to discuss a peace treaty and usually conclude it not very long afterwards.
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To receive applause for works which do not demand all our powers hinders our advance towards a perfecting of our spirit. It usually means that thereafter we stand still.
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Actual aristocracy cannot be abolished by any law all the law can do is decree how it is to be imparted and who is to acquire it.
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Affectation is a very good word when someone does not wish to confess to what he would none the less like to believe of himself.
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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.
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Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all.
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Man can acquire accomplishments or he can become an animal, whichever he wants. God makes the animals, man makes himself.
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I am always grieved when a man of real talent dies, for the world needs such men more than heaven does.
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He who is in love with himself has at least this advantage he won't encounter many rivals.
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The sure conviction that we could if we wanted to is the reason so many good minds are idle.
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To read means to borrow to create out of one's readings is paying off one's debts.
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A person reveals his character by nothing so clearly as the joke he resents.
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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.
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Before we blame, we should first see if we can't excuse.
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Everyone is a genius at least once a year. The real geniuses simply have their bright ideas closer together.
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