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

Some good qualities are like the senses: Those who are entirely deprived of them can have no notion of them.

Only strong natures can really be sweet ones; those that seem sweet are in general only weak, and may easily turn sour.

It is almost always a fault of one who loves not to realize when he ceases to be loved.

It is as easy to deceive one's self without perceiving it, as it is difficult to deceive others without their finding out.

To safeguard one's health at the cost of too strict a diet is a tiresome illness, indeed.

If you cannot find peace in yourself, it is useless to look for it elsewhere.