We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.

What men call friendship is no more than a partnership, a mutual care of interests, an exchange of favors - in a word, it is a sort of traffic, in which self-love ever proposes to be the gainer.

When the soul is ruffled by the remains of one passion, it is more disposed to entertain a new one than when it is entirely curedand at rest from all.

If it were not for the company of fools, a witty man would often be greatly at a loss.

The sure mark of one born with noble qualities is being born without envy.

We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what we desire.

Men frequently do good only to give themselves opportunity of doing ill with impunity.