The most subtle of our acts is to simulate blindness for snares that we know are set for us.

We often are consoled by our want of reason for misfortunes that reason could not have comforted.

No matter how much care we put into hiding our passions under the appearances of devotion and honor, they can always be seen to peer out through these covers.

There are heroes of wickedness, as there are of goodness.

What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one.

He is safe who admits no one to his confidence.

Of all our faults, the one that we excuse most easily is idleness.