When our hatred is too alive puts us below what we hate.

It is easier to understand mankind in general than any individual man.

Weak people cannot be sincere.

When love becomes labored we welcome an act of infidelity towards ourselves to free us from fidelity.

The esteem of good men is the reward of our worth, but the reputation of the world in general is the gift of our fate.

What makes false reckoning, as regards gratitude, is that the pride of the giver and the receiver cannot agree as to the value of the benefit.

Our merit gains us the esteem of the virtuous-our star that of the public.