The dictum that human nature cannot be changed is one of those tiresome platitudes that conceal from the ignorant the depths of their own ignorance.

Extreme hopes are born of extreme misery.

The human heart as modern civilization has made it is more prone to hatred than to friendship. And it is prone to hatred because it is dissatisfied.

Italy, and the spring and first love all together should suffice to make the gloomiest person happy.

All great books contain boring portions, and all great lives have contained uninteresting stretches.

In our complex world, there cannot be fruitful initiative without government, but unfortunately there can be government without initiative.

A good man will never suspect his friends of shady actions: this is part of his goodness. A good man will never be suspected by the public of using his goodness to screen villains: this is part of his utility.

Happiness is not best achieved by those who seek it directly; and it would seem that the same is true of the good.

Ants and savages put strangers to death.

Folly is perennial and yet the human race has survived.