The generality of friends puts us out of conceit with friendship; just as the generality of religious people puts us out of conceit with religion.

The health of the soul is something we can be no more sure of than that of the body; and though a man may seem far from the passions, yet he is in as much danger of falling into them as one in a perfect state of health of having a fit of sickness.

Passion often makes a fool of the cleverest man and often makes the most foolish men clever

Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and contempt which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune; it is a vain display of our strength of mind, and in short the moderation of men at their greatest height is only a desire to appear greater than their fortune.

Sometimes a fool has talent, but never judgment.

Fortune turns all things to the advantage of those on whom she smiles.

Weakness is more opposed to virtue than is vice.