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.

How can we be answerable for what we shall want in the future, since we have no clear idea of what we want now?

The height of ability consists in a thorough knowledge of the real value of things, and of the genius of the age in which we live.

Pride does not wish to owe and vanity does not wish to pay.

What makes lovers never tire of one another is that they talk always about themselves.

Plenty of people want to be pious, but no one yearns to be humble.

The breeding we give young people is ordinarily but an additional self-love, by which we make them have a better opinion of themselves.