Hope is the last thing that dies in man; and though it be exceedingly deceitful, yet it is of this good use to us, that while we are traveling through life it conducts us in an easier and more pleasant way to our journey's end.

Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in very few people; what we usually see is only an artful dissimulation to win the confidence of others.

It is worth nothing to be young without being beautiful, nor to be beautiful without being young.

Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our virtue often gets the praise.

Only strong natures can really be sweet ones; those that seem sweet are in general only weak, and may easily turn sour.

Fancy sets the value on the gifts of fortune.

Love has its name borrowed by a great number of dealings and affairs that are attributed to it--in which it has no greater part than the Doge in what is done at Venice.