Gratitude is a lively sense of benefits to come.

How can we be answerable for what we shall want in the future, since we have no clear idea of what we want now?

However greatly we distrust the sincerity of those we converse with, yet still we think they tell more truth to us than to anyone else.

The passions do very often give birth to others of a nature most contrary to their own. Thus avarice sometimes brings forth prodigality, and prodigality avarice; a man's resolution is very often the effect of levity, and his boldness that of cowardice and fear.

The more one loves a mistress, the more one is ready to hate her.

There is no praise we have not lavished upon prudence; and yet she cannot assure to us the most trifling event.

The principal point of cleverness is to know how to value things just as they deserve.