Our good qualities expose us more to hatred and persecution than all the ill we do.

Nature creates ability; luck provides it with opportunity.

We are more often treacherous through weakness than through calculation.

Fortune makes our virtues and vices visible, just as light does the objects of sight.

We all have enough strength to endure the misfortunes of others.

The reason we bitterly hate those who deceive us is because they think they are cleverer than we are.

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