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

It appears that nature has hid at the bottom of our hearts talents and abilities unknown to us. It is only the passions that have the power of bringing them to light, and sometimes give us views more true and more perfect than art could possibly do.

Virtue is to the soul what health is tot he body.

If we are incapable of finding peace in ourselves, it is pointless to search elsewhere.

A clever man should handle his interests so that each will fall in suitable order of their value.

No man deserves to be praised for his goodness, who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth, or an impotence of will.

We have no patience with other people's vanity because it is offensive to our own.