What we take for virtue is often nothing but an assemblage of different actions, and of different interests, that fortune or our industry knows how to arrange.

Innocence does not find near so much protection as guilt.

Not all those who know their minds know their hearts as well.

It is only persons of firmness that can have real gentleness. Those who appear gentle are, in general, only a weak character, which easily changes into asperity.

Our merit gains us the esteem of the virtuous-our star that of the public.

Jealousy is in some measure just and reasonable, since it merely aims at keeping something that belongs to us or we think belongsto us, whereas envy is a frenzy that cannot bear anything that belongs to others.

The height of ability in the least able consists in knowing how to submit to the good leadership of others.