Friendship is only a reciprocal conciliation of interests, and an exchange of good offices; it is a species of commerce out of which self-love always expects to gain something.

There are few good women who do not tire of their role.

Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.

We often see malefactors, when they are led to execution, put on resolution and a contempt of death which, in truth, is nothing else but fearing to look it in the face--so that this pretended bravery may very truly be said to do the same good office to their mind that the blindfold does to their eyes.

Moderation is like sobriety: you would like to have some more, but are afraid of making yourself ill.

The constancy of the wise is only the talent of concealing the agitation of their hearts.

We may seem great in an employment below our worth, but we very often look little in one that is too big for us.