To be a great man it is necessary to know how to profit by the whole of our good fortune.

The constancy of the wise is only the art of keeping disquietude to one's self.

Whatever distrust we may have of the sincerity of those who converse with us, we always believe they will tell us more truth than they do to others.

Οur own distrust somewhat justifies the deceit of others.

Old people love to give good advice; it compensates them for their inability to set a bad example.

Truth is the foundation and the reason of the perfection of beauty, for of whatever stature a thing may be, it cannot be beautiful-and perfect, unless it be truly what it should be, and possess truly all that it should have.

We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.