The blindness of men is the most dangerous effect of their pride; it seems to nourish and augment it; it deprives them of knowledge of remedies which can solace their miseries and can cure their faults.

There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the world.

Happiness does not consist in things themselves but in the relish we have of them; and a man has attained it when he enjoys what he loves and desires himself, and not what other people think lovely and desirable.

We label judges with having the meanest motives, and yet we desire that our reputation and fame should depend upon the judgment of men, who are all, either from their jealousy or preoccupation or want of intelligence, opposed to us - and yet despite their bias, just for the sake of making these men decide in our favor, we peril in so many ways both our peace and our life.

Men give away nothing so liberally as their advice.

Fortune mends more faults in us than ever reason would be able to do.

Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy they are, who already possess it.