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

Moderation in people who are contented comes from that calm that good fortune lends to their spirit.

The fondness or indifference that the philosophers expressed for life was merely a preference inspired by their self-love, and will no more bear reasoning upon than the relish of the palate or the choice of colors.

The most clever and polite are content with only seeming attentive while we perceive in their mind and eyes that at the very time they are wandering from what is said and desire to return to what they want to say.

Generosity is the vanity of giving.

We are never so happy, nor so unhappy, as we suppose ourselves to be.

A clever man should handle his interests so that each will fall in suitable order of their value.