A clever man reaps some benefit from the worst catastrophe, and a fool can turn even good luck to his disadvantage.

Men and things have each their proper perspective; to judge rightly of some it is necessary to see them near, of others we can never judge rightly but at a distance.

Nothing ought in reason to mortify our self-satisfaction more that the considering that we condemn at one time what we highly approve and commend at another.

The violence we do to ourselves in order to remain faithful to the one we love is hardly better than an act of infidelity.

The only security is courage.

As one grows older, one becomes wiser and more foolish.

The most ingenious men continually pretend to condemn tricking--but this is often done that they may use it more conveniently themselves, when some great occasion or interest offers itself to them.