The world more often rewards the appearances of merit than merit itself.

Men would not live in society long if they were not each others dupes.

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

What men call friendship is no more than a partnership, a mutual care of interests, an exchange of favors - in a word, it is a sort of traffic, in which self-love ever proposes to be the gainer.

When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.

Weak people cannot be sincere.

A readiness to believe ill of others, before we have duly examined it, is the effect of laziness and pride. We are eager to find aculprit, and loath to give ourselves the trouble of examining the crime.