“He who speaks evil only differs from his who does evil in that he lacks opportunity.”

Men, even when alone, lighten their labors by song, however rude it may be.

Consequently the student who is devoid of talent will derive no more profit from this work than barren soil from a treatise on agriculture.

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.

Medicine for the dead is too late.

An evil-speaker differs from an evil-doer only in the want of opportunity.

A great part of art consists in imitation. For the whole conduct of life is based on this: that what we admire in others we want to do ourselves.

Without natural gifts technical rules are useless.

A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.

When we cannot hope to win, it is an advantage to yield.

It is much easier to try one’s hand at many things than to concentrate one’s powers on one thing.

The learned understand the reason of art; the unlearned feel the pleasure.

Write quickly and you will never write well; write well, and you will soon write quickly.

Sayings designed to raise a laugh are generally untrue and never complimentary. Laughter is never far removed from derision.

To swear, except when necessary, is becoming to an honorable man.

Give bread to a stranger, in the name of the universal brotherhood which binds together all men under the common father of nature.

If you direct your whole thought to work itself, none of the things which invade eyes or ears will reach the mind.