Silence is the best security to the man who distrusts himself.

We say little, when vanity does not make us speak.

There are certain people fated to be fools; they not only commit follies by choice, but are even constrained to do so by fortune.

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

The desire of talking of ourselves, and showing those faults we do not mind having seen, makes up a good part of our sincerity.

Nothing ought more to humiliate men who have merited great praise than the care they still take to boast of little things.

There are no circumstances, however unfortunate, that clever people do not extract some advantage from.