Avarice misapprehends itself almost always. There is no passion which more often will miss its aim, nor upon which the present has so much influence to the prejudice of the future.

What renders us so changeable in our friendship is, that it is difficult to know the qualities of the soul, but easy to know those of the mind.

Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.

Considering how little the beginning or the ceasing to love is in our own power, it is foolish and unreasonable for the lover or his mistress to complain of one another's inconstancy.

Nature makes merit, and fortune puts it to work.

Most of our faults are more pardonable than the means we use to conceal them.

We always love those who admire us, but we do not always love those whom we admire.