There are a great many simpletons who know themselves to be so, and who make a very cunning use of their own simplicity.

Philosophy easily triumphs over past and future ills; but present ills triumph over philosophy.

Numberless arts appear foolish whose secret motives are most wise and weighty.

Very few people are acquainted with death. They undergo it, commonly, not so much out of resolution as custom and insensitivity; and most men die because they cannot help it.

One can find women who have never had one love affair, but it is rare indeed to find any who have had only one.

When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.

It is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is to listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that that will ever give ground or regret.