Penetration has an air of divination; it pleases our vanity more than any other quality of the mind.

It is not expedient or wise to examine our friends too closely; few persons are raised in our esteem by a close examination.

Whatever discoveries we may have made in the regions of self-love, there still remain many unknown lands.

There is a sort of love whose very excessiveness prevents the lover's being jealous.

We do not despise all those who have vices, but we do despise those that have no virtue.

Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save their honor, few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is necessary to make the design for which they expose themselves succeed.

There is no accident so unfortunate but wise men will make some advantage of it, nor any so entirely fortunate but fools may turn it to their own prejudice.