The duration of our passions is no more dependent on ourselves than the duration of our lives.

To establish ourselves in the world, we have to do all we can to appear established. To succeed in the world, we do everything we can to appear successful.

We often shed tears that deceive ourselves after deceiving others.

There is no better proof of a man's being truly good than his desiring to be constantly under the observation of good men.

A certain harmony should be kept between actions and ideas if we want to fully develop the effects they can produce.

All who know their own minds know not their own hearts.

The surest way to be deceived is to consider oneself cleverer than others.