What would you do if you knew for sure that no one would ever find out?

Those who visit foreign nations, but who associate only with their own countrymen, change their climate, but not their customs 'caelum non animum mutant': they see new meridians, but the same men, and with heads as empty as their pockets.

Very great personages are not likely to form very just estimates either of others or of themselves; their knowledge of themselves is obscured by the flattery of others; their knowledge of others is equally clouded by circumstances peculiar to themselves. For in the presence of the great, the modest are sure to suffer from too much diffidence, and the confident from too much display.

A coxcomb begins by determining that his own profession is the first; and he finishes by deciding that he is the first of profession.

Patience is the support of weakness; impatience the ruin of strength.

Strong as our passions are, they may be starved into submission, and conquered without being killed.

Let those who would affect singularity with success first determine to be very virtuous, and they will be sure to be very singular.