The happiness and unhappiness of men depends as much on their ethics as on fortune.

A man's worth has its season, like fruit.

The man that thinks he loves his mistress for her own sake is mightily mistaken.

We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to be.

Gratitude is like credit; it is the backbone of our relations; frequently we pay our debts not because equity demands that we should, but to facilitate future loans.

Pity is a sense of our own misfortunes in those of another man; it is a sort of foresight of the disasters which may befall ourselves. We assist others,, in order that they may assist us on like occasions; so that the services we offer to the unfortunate are in reality so many anticipated kindnesses to ourselves.

As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.