Landscape painting is the obvious resource of misanthropy.
Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they might have been.
Prosperity is a great teacher adversity a greater.
Poetry is only the highest eloquence of passion, the most vivid form of expression that can be given to our conception of anything, whether pleasurable or painful, mean or dignified, delightful or dis...
The most silent people are generally those who think most highly of themselves.
The way to procure insults is to submit to them. A man meets with no more respect than he exacts.
True friendship is self-love at second hand.
There is a secret pride in every human heart that revolts at tyranny. You may order and drive an individual, but you cannot make him respect you.
We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and our hearts.
A nickname is the heaviest stone that the devil can throw at a man. It is a bugbear to the imagination, and, though we do not believe in it, it still haunts our apprehensions.
There are no rules for friendship. It must be left to itself. We cannot force it any more than love.
There is nothing good to be had in the country or if there be they will not let you have it.
The more we do the more we can do the more busy we are the more leisure we have.
Man is a make-believe animal - he is never so truly himself as when he is acting a part.
Faith is necessary to victory.
If we wish to know the force of human genius we should read Shakespeare. If we wish to see the insignificance of human learning we may only study his commentators. ["On the Ignorance of the Learned"]
A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.
There is a heroism in crime as well as in virtue. Vice and infamy have their altars and their religion.
Love turns, with a little indulgence, to indifference or disgust hatred alone is immortal.
Great thoughts reduced to practice become great acts.