In a vain man, the smallest spark may kindle into the greatest flame, because the materials are always prepared for it.

There is no such thing as freedom of choice unless there is freedom to refuse.

Nothing is more surprising than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few.

Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them.

A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence.

When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities.

The life of man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.

Be a philosopher but, amid all your philosophy be still a man.

A propensity to hope and joy is real riches; one to fear and sorrow real poverty.

All knowledge degenerates into probability.

It is an absurdity to believe that the Deity has human passions, and one of the lowest of human passions, a restless appetite for applause

A mind that tastes the grief obtains a good chance to travel to the Land of Wisdom!

nobody tells us as little girls that we may fall in love and have moments of hating our beloved, or have ridiculous arguments at 2 AM over something that neither person understands.

The firmest friendships have been formed in mutual adversity as iron is most strongly united by the fiercest flame.

You're never able to please everybody, especially when you're transforming a country like Russia.

You become an artist to upset your family.

No matter how hard you hug your money, it never hugs back.

Children are unpredictable. You never know what inconsistency they are going to catch you in next.

Once somebody's aware of a plot, it's like a bone sticking out. If it breaks through the skin, it's very ugly.

Putin is behaving in a very dangerous way. And Donald Trump sounds as though he would simply sit back and allow that to go on. I worry about where that would end up.

Most people I know that have work that is very meaningful to them pay the price of having to work all the time.