Kings do with men as with pieces of money; they give them what value they please, and we are obliged to receive them at their current and not at their real value.

Gratitude is like the good faith of traders: it maintains commerce, and we often pay, not because it is just to discharge our debts, but that we may more readily find people to trust us.

We can be more clever than one, but not more clever than all.

We exaggerate the glory of some men in order to detract from that of others.

They that apply themselves to trifling matters commonly become incapable of great ones.

There is no accident so unfortunate but wise men will make some advantage of it, nor any so entirely fortunate but fools may turn it to their own prejudice.

He who refuses praise the first time that it is offered does so because he would hear it a second time.