The greatness of man is great in that he knows himself to be wretched. A tree does not know itself to be wretched.

• All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.
• The struggle alone pleases us, not the victory.
• It is the fight alone that pleases us, not the victory.
• Chance gives rise to thoughts, and chance removes them no art can keep or acquire them.
• Imagination disposes of everything it creates beauty, justice, and happiness, which are everything in this world.
• Nothing is so intolerable to man as being fully at rest, without a passion, without business, without entertainment, without care.
• Time heals griefs and quarrels, for we change and are no longer the same persons. Neither the offender nor the offended are any more themselves.
• As men are not able to fight against death, misery, ignorance, they have taken it into their heads, in order to be happy, not to think of them at all.
• Our nature consists in motion complete rest is death.
• The charm of fame is so great that we like every object to which it is attached, even death.