What men have called friendship is only a social arrangement, a mutual adjustment of interests, an interchange of services given and received; it is, in sum, simply a business from which those involved propose to derive a steady profit for their own self-love.

The prospect of being pleased tomorrow will never console me for the boredom of today.

Reconciliation with our enemies is simply a desire to better our condition, a weariness of war, or the fear of some unlucky thing from occurring.

The grace of novelty and the length of habit, though so very opposite to one another, yet agree in this, that they both alike keepus from discovering the faults of our friends.

He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world cannot do without him is still more mistaken.

We are all strong enough to bear other men's misfortunes.

There may be talent without position, but there is no position without some kind of talent.