It is much better to learn to deal with the ills we have now than to speculate on those that may befall us.

In the presence of some people we inevitably depart From ourselves: we are inaccurate, we say things we do not feel, And talk nonsense. When we get home we are conscious that we Have made fools of ourselves. Never go near these people.

The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.

It is easier to understand mankind in general than any individual man.

There are certain people fated to be fools; they not only commit follies by choice, but are even constrained to do so by fortune.

There are no accidents so unlucky from which clever people are not able to reap some advantage, and none so lucky that the foolish are not able to turn them to their own disadvantage.

We often shed tears that deceive ourselves after deceiving others.