The most brilliant fortunes are often not worth the littleness required to gain them.

We never desire strongly, what we desire rationally.

Nature has concealed at the bottom of our minds talents and abilities of which we are not aware.

Some people are so extremely whiffling and inconsiderable that they are as far from any real faults as from substantial virtues.

What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given.

It is a common fault never to be satisfied with our fortune, nor dissatisfied with our understanding.

The most sure method of subjecting yourself to be deceived is to consider yourself more cunning than others.