Almost everyone takes pleasure in repaying trifling obligations, very many feel gratitude for those that are moderate; but there is scarcely anyone who is not ungrateful for those that are weighty.

Ridicule dishonours more than dishonour.

Nature has concealed at the bottom of our minds talents and abilities of which we are not aware.

Criticism sometimes is really praise, and praise sometimes slander.

We get so much in the habit of wearing disguises before others that we finally appear disguised before ourselves.

It seems that nature, which has so wisely disposed our bodily organs with a view to our happiness, has also bestowed on us pride, to spare us the pain of being aware of our imperfections.

Bodily labor alleviates the pains of the mind and from this arises the happiness of the poor