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

All our qualities, whether good or bad, are unstable and ambiguous, and almost all are at the mery of chance.

We do not praise others, ordinarily, but in order to be praised ourselves.

There is no accident so unfortunate but wise men will make some advantage of it, nor any so entirely fortunate but fools may turn it to their own prejudice.

It is with sincere affection or friendship as with ghosts and apparitions,--a thing that everybody talks of, and scarce any hath seen.

We think very few people sensible, except those who are of our opinion.

In friendship as well as love, ignorance very often contributes more to our happiness than knowledge.