I write to keep from going mad from the contradictions I find among mankind - and to work some of those contradictions out for myself. work
There is little less trouble in governing a private family than a whole kingdom. family
My trade and art is to live. art
The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness. wisdom
There is no passion so contagious as that of fear. fear
It is not death, it is dying that alarms me. death
The confidence in another man's virtue is no light evidence of a man's own, and God willingly favors such a confidence. God
There are some defeats more triumphant than victories. failure
We can be knowledgable with other men's knowledge but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom. knowledge & wisdom
The ceaseless labour of your life is to build the house of death. death
No pleasure has any savor for me without communication. communication
Death, they say, acquits us of all obligations. death
Marriage is like a cage one sees the birds outside desperate to get in, and those inside equally desperate to get out. marriage
A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband. being good & marriage
Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business better than we do. business & nature
If there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love. friendship, being good, love & marriage
Marriage, a market which has nothing free but the entrance. marriage
It is good to rub and polish our brain against that of others. intelligence
Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul. courage
The thing I fear most is fear. fear
There is no desire more natural than the desire for knowledge. knowledge
There is not much less vexation in the government of a private family than in the managing of an entire state. family & government
If you press me to say why I loved him, I can say no more than because he was he, and I was I. love
For truly it is to be noted, that children's plays are not sports, and should be deemed as their most serious actions. sports
How many things we held yesterday as articles of faith which today we tell as fables. faith
Age imprints more wrinkles in the mind than it does on the face. aging
Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self. the future
I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly. education
Those who have compared our life to a dream were right... we were sleeping wake, and waking sleep. dreams
I speak the truth not so much as I would, but as much as I dare, and I dare a little more as I grow older. truth
The strangest, most generous, and proudest of all virtues is true courage. courage
Stubborn and ardent clinging to one's opinion is the best proof of stupidity. best