There are some people upon whom their very faults and failings sit gracefully; and there are others whose very excellencies and accomplishments do not become them.

Gratitude is like the good faith of traders: it maintains commerce, and we often pay, not because it is just to discharge our debts, but that we may more readily find people to trust us.

What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given.

Generally speaking, we would make a good bargain by renouncing all the good that people say of us, upon condition they would say no ill.

We are more interested in making others believe we are happy than in trying to be happy ourselves.

We all have enough strength to endure the misfortunes of others.

As long as we love, we can forgive.