It is no tragedy to do ungrateful people favors, but it is unbearable to be indebted to a scoundrel.

Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does not agree as to the nature and importance of secrecy. Too often we consult ourselves as to what we should say, what we should leave unsaid. There are few permanent secrets, and the scruple against revealing them will not last forever.

Hope, deceiving as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route.

Often we are firm from weakness, and audacious from timidity.

Sobriety is love of health, or inability to eat much.

What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given.

Confidence in conversation has a greater share than wit.