The violence done us by others is often less painful than that which we do to ourselves.

True bravery means doing alone that which one could do if all the world were by.

If we had no faults, we would not derive so much pleasure from noting those of other people.

The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in change, as from the distaste we feel in being too little admired by those that know us too well, and the hope of being more admired by those that know us less.

Few things are impossible in themselves: application to make them succeed fails us more often than the means.

It is often hard to determine whether a clear, open, and honorable proceeding is the result of goodness or of cunning.

Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness.