A democratic despotism is like a theocracy: it assumes its own correctness.

A family on the throne is an interesting idea. It brings down the pride of sovereignty to the level of petty life.

A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

A schoolmaster should have an atmosphere of awe, and walk wonderingly, as if he was amazed at being himself.

An ambassador is not simply an agent; he is also a spectacle.

An inability to stay quiet is one of the conspicuous failings of mankind.

Business is really more agreeable than pleasure: it interests the whole mind but it does not look as if it did.

Civilized ages inherit the human nature which was victorious in barbarous ages, and that nature is, in many respects, not at all suited to civilized circumstances.

It is good to be without vices, but it is not good to be without temptations.

One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.