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.

When our hatred is violent, it sinks us even beneath those we hate.

There are few virtuous women who are not bored with their trade.

Fearlessness is a more than ordinary strength of mind, which raises the soul above the troubles, disorders, and emotions which theprospect of great dangers are used to produce. And by this inward strength it is that heroes preserve themselves in a calm and quiet state, and enjoy a presence of mind and the free use of their reason in the midst of those terrible accidents that amaze and confound other people.

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.

The moderation of people in prosperity is the effect of a smooth and composed temper, owing to the calm of their good fortune.

It seems that nature, which has so wisely disposed our bodily organs with a view to our happiness, has also bestowed on us pride, to spare us the pain of being aware of our imperfections.