Self-love is the love of a man's own self, and of everything else for his own sake. It makes people idolaters to themselves, and tyrants to all the world besides.

Avarice is more directly opposed to thrift than generosity is.

We only confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no big ones.

There is no disguise which can hide love for long where it exists, or simulate it where it does not.

Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone.

There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the world.

We forget our faults easily when they are known to ourselves alone.