Few things are needed to make a wise man happy; nothing can make a fool content; that is why most men are miserable.

The most ingenious men continually pretend to condemn tricking--but this is often done that they may use it more conveniently themselves, when some great occasion or interest offers itself to them.

There are a great many simpletons who know themselves to be so, and who make a very cunning use of their own simplicity.

We forget our faults easily when they are known to ourselves alone.

Only strong natures can really be sweet ones; those that seem sweet are in general only weak, and may easily turn sour.

In the intercourse of life, we please more by our faults than by our good qualities.

Nothing is rarer than real goodness.