To establish ourselves in the world, we have to do all we can to appear established. To succeed in the world, we do everything we can to appear successful.

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.

It is easier to deceive yourself, and to do so unperceived, than to deceive another.

The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.

Few things are impossible in themselves: application to make them succeed fails us more often than the means.

Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one side.

Love can no more continue without a constant motion than fire can; and when once you take hope and fear away, you take from it its very life and being.