Usually we praise only to be praised.

The name and pretense of virtue is as serviceable to self-interest as are real vices.

Only the contemptible fear contempt.

There are follies as catching as contagious disorders.

There are no circumstances, however unfortunate, that clever people do not extract some advantage from.

A true friend is the most precious of all possessions and the one we take the least thought about acquiring.

Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.