The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.

Nothing is given so profusely as advice.

Sometimes there are accidents in our lives the skillful extrication from which demands a little folly.

To awaken a man who is deceived as to his own merit is to do him as bad a turn as that done to the Athenian madman who was happy in believing that all the ships touching at the port belonged to him.

The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.

Fortune never appears so blind as to those to whom she does no good.

Fortunate persons hardly ever amend their ways: they always imagine that they are in the right when fortune upholds their bad conduct.