It is a truth that man is difficult to know, and that, if we may not deceive ourselves, we must judge him by his actions of the moment, and for the moment only. Friendship is but a name. Men have their virtues, their vices, their heroism, their perverseness, they possess and exercise all that is good, and all that is bad in this world. Men, in general, are but children of a larger growth. Men of letters are useful, and should ever be cherished, as they do honour to their country.
Great men are like meteors, which shine and consume themselves to enlighten the earth.
To have a right estimate of a man's character, we must see him in misfortune.