Men would not live in society long if they were not each others dupes.

A respectable man may love madly, but not foolishly.

Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our virtue often gets the praise.

In the human heart new passions are forever being born; the overthrow of one almost always means the rise of another.

There are no events so disastrous that adroit men do not draw some advantage from them, nor any so fortunate that the imprudent cannot turn to their own prejudice.

Generally speaking, we would make a good bargain by renouncing all the good that people say of us, upon condition they would say no ill.

A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.