He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world cannot do without him is still more mistaken.

To achieve greatness one should live as if they will never die.

Humility is often a false front we employ to gain power over others.

When great men permit themselves to be cast down by the continuance of misfortune, they show us that they were only sustained by ambition, and not by their mind; so that PLUS a great vanity, heroes are made like other men.

It is a mistake to imagine, that the violent passions only, such as ambition and love, can triumph over the rest. Idleness, languid as it is, often masters them all; she influences all our designs and actions, and insensibly consumes and destroys both passions and virtues.

No man deserves to be praised for his goodness, who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth, or an impotence of will.

A man is perhaps ungrateful, but often less chargeable with ingratitude than his benefactor is.