On why I don't trust democracy without extremely powerful systems of accountability and recall What seems to be generosity is often only disguised ambition - which despises small interests to gain great ones.

What often prevents our abandoning ourselves to a single vice is, our having more than one.

Ridicule dishonors a man more than dishonor does.

Men more easily renounce their interests than their tastes.

In infants, levity is a prettiness; in men a shameful defect; but in old age, a monstrous folly.

Gratitude is a lively sense of benefits to come.

Lovers, when they are no longer in love, find it very hard to break up.