Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires.

Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness.

The praise we give to new comers into the world arises from the envy we bear to those who are established.

It is more often from pride than from ignorance that we are so obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places taken, and we do not want to be the last.

A man, in order to establish himself in the world, does everything he can to appear established there.

Flattery is false money, which would not be current were it not for our vanity.

Friendship is only a reciprocal conciliation of interests, and an exchange of good offices; it is a species of commerce out of which self-love always expects to gain something.