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.

Passion often makes fools of the wisest men and gives the silliest wisdom.

It is the prerogative of great men only to have great defects.

It is as commendable to think well of oneself when alone, as it is ridiculous to speak well of oneself among others.

The breeding we give young people is ordinarily but an additional self-love, by which we make them have a better opinion of themselves.

People that are conceited of their own merit take pride in being unfortunate, that themselves and others may think them considerable enough to be the envy and the mark of fortune.

The esteem of good men is the reward of our worth, but the reputation of the world in general is the gift of our fate.