It is a clear gain to sacrifice pleasure in order to avoid pain.

Every human perfection is allied to a defect into which it threatens to pass, but it is also true that every defect is allied to a perfection.

History is the long, difficult and confused dream of Mankind.

We can come to look upon the deaths of our enemies with as much regret as we feel for those of our friends, namely, when we miss their existence as witnesses to our success.

Man shows his character best in trifles.

It is with trifles, and when he is off guard, that a man best reveals his character.

No doubt, when modesty was made a virtue, it was a very advantageous thing for the fools, for everybody is expected to speak of himself as if he were one.