We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore.

Our aversion to lying is commonly a secret ambition to make what we say considerable, and have every word received with a religious respect.

Love has its name borrowed by a great number of dealings and affairs that are attributed to it--in which it has no greater part than the Doge in what is done at Venice.

The health of the soul is as precarious as that of the body; for when we seem secure from passions, we are no less in danger of their infection than we are of falling ill when we appear to be well.

The most ingenious men continually pretend to condemn tricking--but this is often done that they may use it more conveniently themselves, when some great occasion or interest offers itself to them.

It is with sincere affection or friendship as with ghosts and apparitions,--a thing that everybody talks of, and scarce any hath seen.

Sometimes we think we dislike flattery, but it is only the way it is done that we dislike.