We often brag that we are never bored with ourselves, and are so vain as never to think ourselves bad company.

There are few people more convinced of their own genius than those who complain of how stupid they are.

What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one.

How can we be answerable for what we shall want in the future, since we have no clear idea of what we want now?

There are heroes of wickedness, as there are of goodness.

It is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is to listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that that will ever give ground or regret.

A respectable man may love madly, but not foolishly.