“I have friends whose society is delightful to me; they are persons of all countries and of all ages; distinguished in war, in council, and in letters; easy to live with, always at my command.”

Often on earth the gentlest heart is fain To feed and banquet on another’s woe.

Hitherto your eyes have been darkened and you have looked too much, yes, far too much, upon the things of earth. If these so much delight you what shall be your rapture when you lift your gaze to things eternal!

Death is a sleep that ends our dreaming. Oh, that we may be allowed to wake before death wakes us.

Go, grieving rimes of mine, to that hard stone Whereunder lies my darling, lies my dear, And cry to her to speak from heaven’s sphere.

A short cut to riches is to subtract from our desires.

For style beyond the genius never dares.

Sameness is the mother of disgust, variety the cure.

Death had his grudge against me, and he got up in the way, like an armed robber, with a pike in his hand.

To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing judgment almost every one is influenced not so much by truth as by preference, and good and evil report alike know no bounds.

Mere elegance of language can produce at best but an empty renown.

Alack our life, so beautiful to see, With how much ease life losest, in a day, What many years with pain and toil amassed!

To be able to say how much love, is love but little.

Books can warm the heart with friendly words and counsel, entering into a close relationship with us which is articulate and alive.

Reality is always the foe of famous names.

I freeze and burn, love is bitter and sweet, my sighs are tempests and my tears are floods, I am in ecstasy and agony, I am possessed by memories of her and I am in exile from myself.

Who over-refines his argument brings himself to grief.