We should gain more by letting the world see what we are than by trying to seem what we are not.

Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.

Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance.

We do not wish ardently for what we desire only through reason.

A man is sometimes better off deceived about the one he loves, than undeceived.

The intention of cheating no one lays us open to being cheated ourselves.

We have no patience with other people's vanity because it is offensive to our own.