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.

Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires.

We are never either so fortunate or so misfortunate as we imagine.

Things often offer themselves to our mind in a more finished form in the very first thought, than we might have made them by muchart and study.

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

Preserving health by too severe a rule is a worrisome malady.

Moderation is the feebleness and sloth of the soul, whereas ambition is the warmth and activity of it.