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

The contempt of riches in the philosophers was a concealed desire of revenging on fortune the injustice done to their merit, by despising the good she denied them.

We easily forgive our friends those faults that do no affect us ourselves.

Idiots and lunatics see only their own wit.

There are heroes in evil as well as in good.

There are some faults which, when well managed, make a greater figure than virtue itself.

We only acknowledge small faults in order to make it appear that we are free from great ones.