Preserving health by too severe a rule is a worrisome malady.

We acknowledge that we should not talk of our wives; but we seem not to know that we should talk still less of ourselves.

It is not expedient or wise to examine our friends too closely; few persons are raised in our esteem by a close examination.

Jealousy lives upon doubts. It becomes madness or ceases entirely as soon as we pass from doubt to certainty.

People that are conceited of their own merit take pride in being unfortunate, that themselves and others may think them considerable enough to be the envy and the mark of fortune.

When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they had a mind to vindicate their own merit, and take revenge upon the injustice of fortune by vilifying those enjoyments which she had not given them.

Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.