Whatever pretended causes we may blame our afflictions upon, it is often nothing but self-interest and vanity that produce them.

Moderation is a fear of falling into that envy and contempt which those who grow giddy with their good fortune quite justly draw upon themselves. It is a vain boasting of the greatness of our mind.

Our hopes, often though they deceive us, lead us pleasantly along the path of life.

In great affairs we ought to apply ourselves less to creating chances than to profiting from those that offer.

Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.

We may seem great in an employment below our worth, but we very often look little in one that is too big for us.

We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to be.