We arrive at the various stages of life quite as novices.

The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body; after all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind, and they are in continual danger of breaking the skin and bursting out again.

Those whom the world has delighted to honor have oftener been influenced in their doings by ambition and vanity than by patriotism.

In love the deceit generally outstrips the distrust.

When the soul is ruffled by the remains of one passion, it is more disposed to entertain a new one than when it is entirely curedand at rest from all.

What we cut off from our other faults is very often but so much added to our pride.

We should often feel ashamed of our best actions if the world could see all the motives which produced them.