Humility is often only the putting on of a submissiveness by which men hope to bring other people to submit to them; it is a morecalculated sort of pride, which debases itself with a design of being exalted; and though this vice transform itself into a thousand several shapes, yet the disguise is never more effectual nor more capable of deceiving the world than when concealed under a form of humility.

Some reproaches praise; some praises reproach.

Sometimes, occasions occur in life which demand you to be a little foolish in order to skillfully extricate yourself.

The reason we bitterly hate those who deceive us is because they think they are cleverer than we are.

He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world cannot do without him is still more mistaken.

Kings do with men as with pieces of money; they give them what value they please, and we are obliged to receive them at their current and not at their real value.

To praise great actions with sincerity may be said to be taking part in them.