Most of our faults are more pardonable than the means we use to conceal them.

We exaggerate the glory of some men in order to detract from that of others.

To be a great man it is necessary to know how to profit by the whole of our good fortune.

Some good qualities are like the senses: Those who are entirely deprived of them can have no notion of them.

What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one.

It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.

Those who give too much attention to trifling things become generally incapable of great ones.