[T]he man who meditates is a depraved animal. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

He neither seeks nor avoids talking about his enemies. When he does speak of them, it is with pride without disdain, humor without rancor, reproach without bitterness, frankness without spite. And in the same way, he speaks of his rivals for glory only with deserved praises that conceal no hidden venom, which can certainly not be said of the praise they sometimes give him. But what I find in him that is most rare in an Author and and even in a sensitive man is the most perfect tolerance in matters of feelings and opinions, and the putting aside of all partisan spirit, even in his own favor; wanting freely to state his opinion and his reasons when the issue demands it, and even doing so with passion when his heart is agitated; but not blaming people for not adopting what he feels any more than he puts up with anyone's wish to deprive him of his feeling; and giving everyone the same freedom of thought as he insists on having for himself. I hear everyone talk about tolerance, but he is the only truly tolerant person I have known.

Die Freiheit des Menschen liegt nicht darin, dass er tun kann, was er will, sondern dass er nicht tun muss, was er nicht will.

Çevremizde her şey değişir. Kendimiz de değişiriz ve kimse bugün sevdiğini yarın da seveceğinden emin olamaz. Böylece şu dünyayla ilgili mutluluk tasarılarımız hep ham düşlemlerdir. Gönül rahatına kavuştuğumuz zaman, zevkine varalım; kendi kusurumuzla onu kaçırmayalım; ama onu bağlamayı düşünmek de bir çılgınlıktır. Mutlu olan az kişi gördüm, belki de görmedim; ama, gönlü hoşnut kimselere sık sık rastlarım. Mutluluğumun dış belirtileri yoktur; onu keşfetmek için mutlu insanın yüreğindekini görebilmeli.