“Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit and lost without deserving.”

“A knight errant who turns mad for a reason deserves neither merit nor thanks. The thing is to do it without cause.”

“It goes without saying that the most valuable asset of any profession is its collective reputation.”

“Eminence without merit earns deference without esteem.”

“Mere bashfulness without merit is awkward; and merit without modesty, insolent. But modest merit has a double claim to acceptance, and generally meets with as many patrons as beholders.”

“Most people go through their whole lives without killing anybody. False argument.”

“Faith is, indeed, most necessary in human affairs, as well as in religion Without faith, no contracts could be concluded, nor could any business be transacted. And without faith, where would be the basis for the divine reward of human merit? As it is, that faith which embraces the truths of religion deserves reward. Such faith is, according to the Apostle, "a substantiation of things to be hoped for, a testimonial to things that appear not."”

“With enough courage, you can do without a reputation.”

“Oft expectation fails, and most oft there where most it promises; and oft it hits where hope is coldest, and despair most fits.”

“…Fatherland without freedom and merit is a large word with little meaning.”