Ridicule dishonors a man more than dishonor does.

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.

Clemency, which we make a virtue of, proceeds sometimes from vanity, sometimes from indolence, often from fear, and almost always from a mixture of all three.

The passions do very often give birth to others of a nature most contrary to their own. Thus avarice sometimes brings forth prodigality, and prodigality avarice; a man's resolution is very often the effect of levity, and his boldness that of cowardice and fear.

One man may be more cunning than another, but no one can be more cunning than all the world.

We should only affect compassion, and carefully avoid having any.

In friendship as well as love, ignorance very often contributes more to our happiness than knowledge.