The health of the soul is something we can be no more sure of than that of the body; and though a man may seem far from the passions, yet he is in as much danger of falling into them as one in a perfect state of health of having a fit of sickness.

No matter how brilliant an action, it should not be considered great unless it was the result of a great motive.

Some people are so extremely whiffling and inconsiderable that they are as far from any real faults as from substantial virtues.

We are never either so fortunate or so misfortunate as we imagine.

Tastes in young people are changed by natural impetuosity, and in the aged are preserved by habit.

People that are conceited of their own merit take pride in being unfortunate, that themselves and others may think them considerable enough to be the envy and the mark of fortune.

Vanity, shame, and above all disposition, often make men brave and women chaste.