Folly pursues us at all periods of our lives. If someone seems wise it is only because his follies are proportionate to his age and fortune.

It is with certain good qualities as with the senses; those who have them not can neither appreciate nor comprehend them in others.

A man is ridiculous less through the characteristics he has than through those he affects to have.

We pardon as long as we love.

Our actions seem to have their lucky and unlucky stars, to which a great part of that blame and that commendation is due which is given to the actions themselves.

Some men are like ballads, that are in everyone's mouth a little while.

It is a mighty error to suppose that none but violent and strong passions, such as love and ambition, are able to vanquish the rest. Even idleness, as feeble and languishing as it is, sometimes reigns over them; it usurps the throne and sits paramount over all the designs and actions of our lives, and imperceptibly wastes and destroys all our passions and all our virtues.