If we had no faults, we would not derive so much pleasure from noting those of other people.

Silence is the best security to the man who distrusts himself.

In every walk of life each man puts on a personality and outward appearance so as to look what he wants to be thought; in fact you might say that society is entirely made up of assumed personalities.

In great affairs we ought to apply ourselves less to creating chances than to profiting from those that offer.

Some people resemble ballads which are only sung for a certain time.

There is a sort of love whose very excessiveness prevents the lover's being jealous.

When we enlarge upon the affection our friends have for us, this is very often not so much out of a sense of gratitude as from a desire to persuade people of our own great worth, that can deserve so much kindness.