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.

When love becomes labored we welcome an act of infidelity towards ourselves to free us from fidelity.

We seldom find people ungrateful so long as it is thought we can serve them.

True bravery means doing alone that which one could do if all the world were by.

The happiness and unhappiness of men depends as much on their ethics as on fortune.

The world is full of pots jeering at kettles.

Men frequently do good only to give themselves opportunity of doing ill with impunity.