The intention of cheating no one lays us open to being cheated ourselves.

Absence cools moderate passions, and inflames violent ones; just as the wind blows out candles, but kindles fires.

The passions do very often give birth to others of a nature most contrary to their own. Thus avarice sometimes brings forth prodigality, and prodigality avarice; a man's resolution is very often the effect of levity, and his boldness that of cowardice and fear.

Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise their understanding.

The largest ambition has the least appearance of ambition when it meets with an absolute impossibility in compassing its object.

Spiritual health is no more stable than bodily; and though we may seem unaffected by the passions we are just as liable to be carried away by them as to fall ill when in good health.

The only good imitations are those that poke fun at bad originals.