Whatever pretext we may give for our affections, often it is only interest and vanity which cause them.

There are a great many simpletons who know themselves to be so, and who make a very cunning use of their own simplicity.

Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.

A good woman is a hidden treasure; who discovers her will do well not to boast about it.

However evil men may be they dare not be openly hostile to virtue, and so when they want to attack it they pretend to find it spurious , or impute crimes to it.

The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it.

It is as easy to unknowingly deceive yourself as it is to deceive others.