One man may be more cunning than another, but no one can be more cunning than all the world.

If we have not peace within ourselves, it is in vain to seek it from outward sources.

Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation.

Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, delicate, which gratifies differently him who praises and him who is praised. The one takes it as the reward of merit, the other bestows it to show his impartiality and knowledge.

The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.

No men are oftener wrong than those that can least bear to be so.

Repentance is not so much remorse for what we have done as the fear of the consequences.