We have no patience with other people's vanity because it is offensive to our own.

Whatever distrust we may have of the sincerity of those who converse with us, we always believe they will tell us more truth than they do to others.

Selfishness is the grand moving principle of nine-tenths of our actions.

There are various sorts of curiosity; one is from interest, which makes us desire to know that which may be useful to us; and the other, from pride which comes from the wish to know what others are ignorant of.

The passions of youth are not more dangerous to health than is the lukewarmness of old age.

Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and contempt which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune; it is a vain display of our strength of mind, and in short the moderation of men at their greatest height is only a desire to appear greater than their fortune.

Ridicule dishonours more than dishonour.