Most men, like plants, possess hidden qualities which chance discovers.

To be a great man it is necessary to know how to profit by the whole of our good fortune.

Our actions seem to have their lucky and unlucky stars, to which a great part of that blame and that commendation is due which is given to the actions themselves.

It is more often from pride than from defective understanding that people oppose established opinions: they find the best places taken in the good party and are reluctant to accept inferior ones.

Vanity, shame, and above all disposition, often make men brave and women chaste.

Being a blockhead is sometimes the best security against being cheated by a man of wit.

Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy they are, who already possess it.