In growing old, we become more foolish - and more wise.

Even the most disinterested love is, after all, but a kind of bargain, in which self-love always proposes to be the gainer one wayor another.

Men would not live in society long if they were not each others dupes.

Great and glorious events which dazzle the beholder are represented by politicians as the outcome of grand designs whereas they are usually products of temperaments and passions.

Familiarity is a suspension of almost all the laws of civility, which libertinism has introduced into society under the notion of ease.

It requires greater virtues to support good fortune than bad.

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