He is a truly virtuous man who wishes always to be open to the observation of honest men.

Were we perfectly acquainted with the object, we should never passionately desire it.

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

Men are not only prone to forget benefits; they even hate those who have obliged them, and cease to hate those who have injured them. The necessity of revenging an injury, or of recompensing a benefit seems a slavery to which they are unwilling to submit.

No man deserves to be praised for his goodness, who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth, or an impotence of will.

In infants, levity is a prettiness; in men a shameful defect; but in old age, a monstrous folly.

Love has its name borrowed by a great number of dealings and affairs that are attributed to it--in which it has no greater part than the Doge in what is done at Venice.