The health of the soul is as precarious as that of the body; for when we seem secure from passions, we are no less in danger of their infection than we are of falling ill when we appear to be well.

Some disguised deceits counterfeit truth so perfectly that not to be taken in by them would be an error of judgment.

We may sooner be brought to love them that hate us, than them that love us more than we would have them do.

On why I don't trust democracy without extremely powerful systems of accountability and recall What seems to be generosity is often only disguised ambition - which despises small interests to gain great ones.

Customary use of artifice is the sign of a small mind, and it almost always happens that he who uses it to cover one spot uncovers himself in another.

A small degree of wit, accompanied by good sense, is less tiresome in the long run than a great amount of wit without it.

The principal point of cleverness is to know how to value things just as they deserve.