It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.

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

The man that thinks he loves his mistress for her own sake is mightily mistaken.

We promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears.

Nothing hinders a thing from being natural so much as the straining ourselves to make it seem so.

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.

Innocence does not find near so much protection as guilt.