Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity.

He is a truly virtuous man who wishes always to be open to the observation of honest men.

Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed.

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.

In their early passions women are in love with the lover, later they are in love with love.

The breeding we give young people is ordinarily but an additional self-love, by which we make them have a better opinion of themselves.

Men are inconsolable concerning the treachery of their friends or the deceptions of their enemies; and yet they are often very highly satisfied to be both deceived and betrayed by their own selves.