Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things themselves; we are happy from possessing what we like, not from possessing what others like.

It is more often from pride than from ignorance that we are so obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places taken, and we do not want to be the last.

Nothing is so contagious as example; and we never do any great good or evil which does not produce its like.

Man only blames himself in order that he may be praised.

Avarice misapprehends itself almost always. There is no passion which more often will miss its aim, nor upon which the present has so much influence to the prejudice of the future.

Honest people will respect us for our merit: the public, for our luck.

He that fancies such a sufficiency in himself that he can live without all the world is greatly mistaken; but he that imagines himself so necessary that other people cannot live without him is a great deal more mistaken.