From the oyster to the eagle, from the swine to the tiger, all animals are to be found in men and each of them exists in some man, sometimes several at the time. Animals are nothing but the portrayal of our virtues and vices made manifest to our eyes, the visible reflections of our souls. God displays them to us to give us food for thought.

Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings.

Common sense is in spite of, not as the result of education.

A creditor is worse than a slave-owner; for the master owns only your person, but a creditor owns your dignity, and can command it.

Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery.

Jesus wept; Voltaire smiled. From that divine tear and from that human smile is derived the grace of present civilization.

Forty is the old age of youth, fifty is the youth of old age.

When grace is joined with wrinkles, it is adorable. There is an unspeakable dawn in happy old age.

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.

Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.