The Mind Reaches Great Heights Only By

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.

We Often Quarrel With The Unfortunate To Get Rid Of Pitying Them.

When We Are Sick Our Virtues And Our Vices Are In Abeyance.

Men Sometimes Feel Injured By Praise Because It Assigns A Limit To Their Merit; Few People Are Modest Enough Not To Take Offense That One Appreciates Them.

It Is Of No Use To Possess A Lively Wit If It Is Not Of The Right Proportion: The Perfection Of A Clock Is Not To Go Fast, But To Be Accurate.