A man convinced of his own merit will accept misfortune as an honor, for thus can he persuade others, as well as himself, that he is a worthy target for the arrows of fate.

We are more often treacherous through weakness than through calculation.

The art of putting into play mediocre qualities often begets more reputation than is achieved by true merit.

Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with impunity.

Those who give too much attention to trifling things become generally incapable of great ones.

We should often blush at our noblest deeds if the world were to see all their underlying motives.

There may be talent without position, but there is no position without some kind of talent.