Sometimes, occasions occur in life which demand you to be a little foolish in order to skillfully extricate yourself.

What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given.

What is called liberality is often merely the vanity of giving.

Affected simplicity is an elegant imposture.

We should not judge a man's merits by his great qualities, but by the use he makes of them.

High fortune makes both our virtues and vices stand out as objects that are brought clearly to view by the light.

Only strong natures can really be sweet ones; those that seem sweet are in general only weak, and may easily turn sour.