The art of using moderate abilities to advantage often brings greater results than actual brilliance

High fortune makes both our virtues and vices stand out as objects that are brought clearly to view by the light.

When our vices leave us, we like to imagine it is we who are leaving them.

Those who most obstinately oppose the most widely-held opinions more often do so because of pride than lack of intelligence. They find the best places in the right set already taken, and they do not want back seats.

Lovers, when they are no longer in love, find it very hard to break up.

We acknowledge that we should not talk of our wives; but we seem not to know that we should talk still less of ourselves.

We say little, when vanity does not make us speak.