Vanity often produces unreasonable alarm.

There is something in the ardour and ingenousness of youth, which is particularly pleasing to the contemplation of an old man, if his feelings have not been entirely corroded by the world.

When the mind has once begun to yield to the weakness of superstition, trifles impress it with the force of conviction.

There is some magic in wealth, which can thus make persons pay their court to it, when it does not even benefit themselves.

But St. Aubert had too much good sense to prefer a charm to a virtue.

What are riches - grandeur - health itself, to the luxury of a pure conscience, the health of the soul; - and what the sufferings of poverty, disappointment, despair - to the anguish of an afflicted one!

Happiness has this essential difference from what is commonly called pleasure, that virtue forms its basis, and virtue being the offspring of reason, may be expected to produce uniformity of effect.