The mischief of children is seldom actuated by malice; that of grown-up people always is.
Generally speaking, there is more wit than talent in the world. Society swarms with witty people who lack talent.
The absolute ruler may be a Nero, but he is sometimes a Titus or Marc Aurelius; the people is often Nero, but never Marc Aurelius.
The most civilized people are as near to barbarism as the most polished steel is to rust. Nations, like metals, have only a superficial brilliancy.
The only thing wealth does for some people is to make them worry about losing it.