The noble simplicity in the works of nature only too often originates in the noble shortsightedness of him who observes it.

Man is always partial and is quite right to be. Even impartiality is partial.

Men still have to be governed by deception.

One should never trust a person who, while assuring you of something, puts his hands on his heart.

The sure conviction that we could if we wanted to is the reason so many good minds are idle.

A man has virtues enough if he deserves pardon for his faults on account of them.

Many things about our bodies would not seem to us so filthy and obscene if we did not have the idea of nobility in our heads.