Let a man choose what condition he will, and let him accumulate around him all the goods and gratifications seemingly calculated to make him happy in it; if that man is left at any time without occupation or amusement, and reflects on what he is, the meagre, languid felicity of his present lot will not bear him up. He will turn necessarily to gloomy anticipations of the future; and unless his occupation calls him out of himself, he is inevitably wretched.

Noble deeds that are concealed are most esteemed.

The charm of fame is so great that we like every object to which it is attached, even death.

I condemn equally those who choose to praise man, those who choose to condemn him and those who choose to divert themselves, and I can only approve of those who seek with groans.

Mutual cheating is the foundation of society.

We run heedlessly into the abyss after putting something in front of us to stop us from seeing it.

Opinion is, as it were, the queen of the world, but force is its tyrant.