Few Men Have Depth Enough To Hear

More Are Taken In By Hope Than By Cunning.

The Character Of False Wit Is That Of Appearing To Depend Only Upon Reason.

Superficial Knowledge ... Is Hurtful To Those Who Possess True Genius; For It Necessarily Draws Them Away From Their Main Object, Wastes Their Industry Over Details And Subjects Foreign To Their Needs And Natural Talent, And Lastly Does Not Serve, As They Flatter Themselves, To Prove The Breadth Of Their Mind. In All Ages There Have Been Men Of Very Moderate Intelligence Who Knew Much, And So On The Contrary, Men Of The Highest Intelligence Who Knew Very Little. Ignorance Is Not Lack Of Intelligence, Nor Knowledge A Proof Of Genius.

A Liar Is A Man Who Does Now Know How To Deceive, A Flatterer One Who Only Deceives Fools: He Who Knows How To Make Skilful Use Of The Truth, And Understands Its Eloquence, Can Alone Pride Himself In Cleverness.

The Maxim That Men Are Not To Be Praised Before Their Death Was Invented By Envy And Too Lightly Adopted By Philosophers. I, On The Contrary, Maintain That They Ought To Be Praised In Their Lifetime If They Merit It; But Jealousy And Calumny, Roused Against Their Virtue Or Their Talent, Labour To Degrade Them If Any One Ventures To Bear Testimony To Them. It Is Unjust Criticism That They Should Fear To Hazard, Not Sincere Praise.