What is called liberality is often merely the vanity of giving.

The great interests of man: air and light, the joy of having a body, the voluptuousness of looking.

In love deceit nearly always goes further than mistrust.

Repentance is not so much remorse for what we have done as the fear of the consequences.

Fearlessness is a more than ordinary strength of mind, which raises the soul above the troubles, disorders, and emotions which theprospect of great dangers are used to produce. And by this inward strength it is that heroes preserve themselves in a calm and quiet state, and enjoy a presence of mind and the free use of their reason in the midst of those terrible accidents that amaze and confound other people.

Those great and glorious actions that dazzle our eyes with their luster are represented by statesmen as the result of great wisdomand excellent design; whereas, in truth, they are commonly the effects of the humors and passions.

The good or the bad fortune of men depends not less upon their own dispositions than upon fortune.