As great minds have the faculty of saying a great deal in a few words, so lesser minds have a talent of talking much, and saying nothing.

We say little, when vanity does not make us speak.

Some people are so extremely whiffling and inconsiderable that they are as far from any real faults as from substantial virtues.

Nothing is so capable of diminishing self-love as the observation that we disapprove at one time what we approve at another.

Those who are themselves incapable of great crimes are ever backward to suspect others.

Fortune mends more faults in us than ever reason would be able to do.

There are persons whose only merit consists in saying and doing stupid things at the right time, and who ruin all if they change their manners.