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.

Numberless arts appear foolish whose secret motives are most wise and weighty.

The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.

What makes the pain we feel from shame and jealousy so cutting is that vanity can give us no assistance in bearing them.

We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what we desire.

We may give advice, but not the sense to use it.

To know oneself is not necessarily to improve oneself