There is great skill in knowing how to conceal one's skill.

Philosophy finds it an easy matter to vanquish past and future evils, but the present are commonly too hard for it.

Some follies are caught, like contagious diseases.

It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings that we exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their merit, and when we praise them we wish to attract their praise.

If we resist our passions, it is more due to their weakness than our strength.

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

What we take for virtue is often nothing but an assemblage of different actions, and of different interests, that fortune or our industry knows how to arrange.