The desire of appearing clever often prevents our becoming so.

Though confidence is very fine, and makes the future sunny; I want no confidence for mine, I'd rather have the money

Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save their honor, few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is necessary to make the design for which they expose themselves succeed.

One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.

Sometimes accidents happen in life from which we have need of a little madness to extricate ourselves successfully

The most effectual way to be deceived is to believe oneself more cunning than one's neighbors.

The trust that we put in ourselves makes us feel trust in others.