Conceit causes more conversation than wit.

The less you trust others, the less you will be deceived.

We are so used to dissembling with others that in time we come to deceive and dissemble with ourselves.

Prudence and love are inconsistent; in proportion as the last increases, the other decreases.

Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our virtue often gets the praise.

Imagination does not enable us to invent as many different contradictions as there are by nature in every heart.

Honest people will respect us for our merit: the public, for our luck.