Reconciliation with our enemies is simply a desire to better our condition, a weariness of war, or the fear of some unlucky thing from occurring.

Great men should not have great faults.

Friendship is a traffic wherein self-love always proposes to be the gainer.

The name and pretense of virtue is as serviceable to self-interest as are real vices.

For most men the love of justice is only the fear of suffering injustice.

Gracefulness is to the body what understanding is to the mind.

Most men, like plants, possess hidden qualities which chance discovers.