We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to be.

Hope, deceiving as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route.

Whatever good things people say of us, they tell us nothing new.

True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world.

Few things are impossible in themselves: application to make them succeed fails us more often than the means.

There are bad people who would be less dangerous if they were quite devoid of goodness.

Narrowness of mind is often the cause of obstinacy; we do not easily believe beyond what we see.