“But with man, — by Hercules! most of his misfortunes are occasioned by man.”

Nothing which we can imagine about Nature is incredible.

It is generally much more shameful to lose a good reputation than never to have acquired it.

Why is it that we entertain the belief that for every purpose odd numbers are the most effectual?

Let honor be to us as strong an obligation as necessity is to others.

When a building is about to fall down, all the mice desert it.

His only fault is that he has no fault.

Simple diet is best: for many dishes bring many diseases, and rich sauces are worse than even heaping several meats upon each other.

We listen with deep interest to what we hear, for to man novelty is ever charming.

Always act in such a way as to secure the love of your neighbour.

No man’s abilities are so remarkably shining as not to stand in need of a proper opportunity.

It is ridiculous to suppose that the great head of things, whatever it be, pays any regard to human affairs.

There is no book so bad that some good can not be got out of it.

No book so bad but some part may be of use.

Amid the sufferings of life on earth, suicide is God’s best gift to man.

It is this earth that, like a kind mother, receives us at our birth, and sustains us when born; it is this alone, of all the elements around us, that is never found an enemy of man.

The happier the moment the shorter.