The name and pretense of virtue is as serviceable to self-interest as are real vices.

Politeness is a desire to be treated politely, and to be esteemed polite oneself.

It is no tragedy to do ungrateful people favors, but it is unbearable to be indebted to a scoundrel.

Nature creates ability; luck provides it with opportunity.

We forget our faults easily when they are known to ourselves alone.

It is not enough to have great qualities; We should also have the management of them.

In great affairs we ought to apply ourselves less to creating chances than to profiting from those that offer.