A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.

Nothing is more contagious than example, and no man does any exceeding good or exceeding ill but it spawns new deeds of the same kind. The good we imitate through emulation, the ill through the malignity of our nature, which shame keeps locked up, but example sets free.

Pride indemnifies itself and loses nothing even when it casts away vanity.

Jealousy is not love, but self-love.

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

A clever man reaps some benefit from the worst catastrophe, and a fool can turn even good luck to his disadvantage.

Nothing is rarer than true good nature; they who are reputed to have it are generally only pliant or weak.