The thing that makes our friendships so short and changeable is that the qualities and dispositions of the soul are very hard to know, and those of the understanding and wit very easy.

We can be more clever than one, but not more clever than all.

There are crimes which become innocent and even glorious through their splendor, number and excess.

The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it.

Propriety is the least of all laws, and the most observed.

Generosity is the vanity of giving.

All men are equally proud. The only difference is that not all take the same methods of showing it.