Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrust himself.

Nothing is so contagious as example; never was there any considerable good or ill done that does not produce its like. We imitate good actions through emulation, and had ones through a malignity in our nature, which shame conceals, and example sets at liberty.

Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we always fear those who use it too much; yet satire should be allowed when unmixed with spite, and when the person satirized can join in the satire.

Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.

Our repentances are generally not so much a concern and remorse for the harm we have done, as a fear of the harm we may have brought upon ourselves.

It is more difficult for a man to be faithful to his mistress when he is favored than when he is ill treated by her.

Nothing prevents one from appearing natural as the desire to appear natural.