We would rather speak ill of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all.

Nothing is more contagious than example, and no man does any exceeding good or exceeding ill but it spawns new deeds of the same kind. The good we imitate through emulation, the ill through the malignity of our nature, which shame keeps locked up, but example sets free.

We should wish for few things with eagerness, if we perfectly knew the nature of that which was the object of our desire.

Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.

The pleasure of love is in the loving; and there is more joy in the passion one feels than in that which one inspires.

It is impossible to love a second time what we have really ceased to love.

Philosophy easily triumphs over past and future ills; but present ills triumph over philosophy.