The greater part of mankind judge of men only by their fashionableness or their fortune.

Politeness is a desire to be treated politely, and to be esteemed polite oneself.

Our wisdom lies as much at the mercy of fortune as our possessions do.

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

The passions often engender their contraries.

The health of the soul is something we can be no more sure of than that of the body; and though a man may seem far from the passions, yet he is in as much danger of falling into them as one in a perfect state of health of having a fit of sickness.

To praise great actions with sincerity may be said to be taking part in them.