Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.

Solemnity is a device of the body to hide the faults of the mind.

There is no disguise which can hide love for long where it exists, or simulate it where it does not.

Loyalty is in most people only a ruse used by self-interest to attract confidence.

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

Moderation in people who are contented comes from that calm that good fortune lends to their spirit.

The largest ambition has the least appearance of ambition when it meets with an absolute impossibility in compassing its object.