People are often vain of their passions, even of the worst, but envy is a passion so timid and shame-faced that no one ever dare avow her.

It is a common fault never to be satisfied with our fortune, nor dissatisfied with our understanding.

Το know how to profit by good advice, requires nearly as much ability as to know how to act for one'self.

The generality of men have, like plants, latent properties, which chance brings to light.

We are sometimes as different from ourselves as we are from others.

Nature has concealed at the bottom of our minds talents and abilities of which we are not aware.

Without humility, we keep all our defects; and they are only crusted over by pride, which conceals them from others, and often from ourselves.