It is a mistake to imagine, that the violent passions only, such as ambition and love, can triumph over the rest. Idleness, languid as it is, often masters them all; she influences all our designs and actions, and insensibly consumes and destroys both passions and virtues.

Men never desire anything very eagerly which they desire only by the dictates of reason.

In growing old, we become more foolish - and more wise.

Whatever pretended causes we may blame our afflictions upon, it is often nothing but self-interest and vanity that produce them.

The extreme delight we experience in talking about ourselves should warn us that those who listen do not share it.

One can no more look steadily at death than at the sun.

Avarice misapprehends itself almost always. There is no passion which more often will miss its aim, nor upon which the present has so much influence to the prejudice of the future.