Nothing ought more to humiliate men who have merited great praise than the care they still take to boast of little things.

A man is ridiculous less through the characteristics he has than through those he affects to have.

Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation. [However disappointment can always be removed if we remember it could have turned out worse.]

There are two things which Man cannot look at directly without flinching: the sun and death.

Gratitude, in most men, is only a strong and secret hope of greater favors.

It is a species of coquetry to make a parade of never practising it.

We easily forget our faults when no one knows them but ourselves.