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.

The art of putting into play mediocre qualities often begets more reputation than is achieved by true merit.

It is much better to learn to deal with the ills we have now than to speculate on those that may befall us.

We may give advice, but not the sense to use it.

It seems that nature, which has so wisely disposed our bodily organs with a view to our happiness, has also bestowed on us pride, to spare us the pain of being aware of our imperfections.

The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. The envy of NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its regrets by the contempt it evinces for those who possess it, and we refuse them our homage, not being able to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of the world.

People would not long remain in social life if they were not the dupes of each other.