"Oblivion is the rule and fame the exception, of humanity."

"Of every ten persons who talk about you, nine will say something bad, and the tenth will say something good in a bad way."

"Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future."

"Ideas are a capital that bears interest only in the hands of talent."

"It is, no doubt, an immense advantage to have done nothing, but one should not abuse it."

"Reason is the historian, but passions are the actors."

"To lose one's self in reverie, one must be either very happy, or very unhappy. Reverie is the child of extremes."

"Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls."

"Memory always obeys the commands of the heart."

"Generally speaking, there is more wit than talent in the world. Society swarms with witty people who lack talent."

"It is the dim haze of mystery that adds enchantment to pursuit."

"Vices are often habits rather than passions."

"Speech is external thought, and thought internal speech."

"The only thing wealth does for some people is to make them worry about losing it."