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.

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.

Jealousy is nothing more than a fear of abandonment

One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.

If we have not peace within ourselves, it is in vain to seek it from outward sources.

When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.

It is sometimes a point of as much cleverness to know to make good use of advice from others as to be able give good advice to oneself.