In their early passions women are in love with the lover, later they are in love with love.

It often happens that things come into the mind in a more finished form than could have been achieved after much study.

A wise man should order his interests, and set them all in their proper places. This order is often troubled by greed, which putsus upon pursuing so many things at once that, in eagerness for matters of less consideration, we grasp at trifles, and let go things of greater value.

If we did not flatter ourselves, the flattery of others could never harm us.

It is easy to be wise on behalf of others than to be so for ourselves.

We often persuade ourselves to love people who are more powerful than we are, yet interest alone produces our friendship; we do not give our hearts away for the good we wish to do, but for that we expect to receive.

There are heroes of wickedness, as there are of goodness.