Our enemies come nearer the truth in the opinions they form of us than we do in our opinion of ourselves.

Men have written in the most convincing manner to prove that death is no evil, and this opinion has been confirmed on a thousand celebrated occasions by the weakest of men as well as by heroes. Even so I doubt whether any sensible person has ever believed it, and the trouble men take to convince others as well as themselves that they do shows clearly that it is no easy undertaking.

In the misfortunes of our best friends we always find something not altogether displeasing to us.

Politeness of the mind is to have delicate thoughts

Good and bad fortune are found severally to visit those who have the most of the one or the other.

There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune; it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things; it is a price which we imperceptibly set upon ourselves.

True love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about and few have seen.