The desire to be thought clever often prevents a man from becoming so.

It is easy to be wise on behalf of others than to be so for ourselves.

As uncommon a thing as true love is, it is yet easier to find than true friendship.

Why can we remember the tiniest detail that has happened to us, and not remember how many times we have told it to the same person.

The reason why lovers are never bored together is that they are always talking of themselves.

Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance.

Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and contempt which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune; it is a vain display of our strength of mind, and in short the moderation of men at their greatest height is only a desire to appear greater than their fortune.