Nature creates ability; luck provides it with opportunity.
Politeness of mind consists in thinking chaste and refined thoughts.
We exaggerate the glory of some men in order to detract from that of others.
We are almost always bored by just those whom we must not find boring.
It is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is to listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that that will ever give ground or regret.
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.