There are more defects in temperament than in the mind.

Spiritual health is no more stable than bodily; and though we may seem unaffected by the passions we are just as liable to be carried away by them as to fall ill when in good health.

The mark of extraordinary merit is to see those most envious of it constrained to praise.

What we call generosity is for the most part only the vanity of giving; and we exercise it because we are more fond of that vanity than of the thing we give.

We frequently do good in order to enable us to do evil later with impunity exemption of punishment.

Nature has concealed at the bottom of our minds talents and abilities of which we are not aware.

How can we expect another to keep our secret if we have been unable to keep it ourselves?