If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.

Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.

We are so used to dissembling with others that in time we come to deceive and dissemble with ourselves.

In the human heart one generation of passions follows another; from the ashes of one springs the spark of the next.

There is no better proof of a man's being truly good than his desiring to be constantly under the observation of good men.

Innocence does not find near so much protection as guilt.

If vanity does not entirely overthrow the virtues, at least it makes them all totter.