Before strongly desiring anything, we should look carefully into the happiness of its present owner.

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

Narrowness of mind is often the cause of obstinacy; we do not easily believe beyond what we see.

To achieve greatness one should live as if they will never die.

The vices enter into the composition of the virtues, as poisons into that of medicines. Prudence collects and arranges them, and uses them beneficially against the ills of life.

The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth

The passions do very often give birth to others of a nature most contrary to their own. Thus avarice sometimes brings forth prodigality, and prodigality avarice; a man's resolution is very often the effect of levity, and his boldness that of cowardice and fear.