Even dress is apt to inflame a man's opinion of himself.

Men are guided less by conscience than by glory; and yet the shortest way to glory is to be guided by conscience.

Whoever appears to have much cunning has in reality very little; being deficient in the essential article, which is, to hide cunning.

The coward reckons himself cautious, the miser frugal.

Luxury possibly may contribute to give bread to the poor; but if there were no luxury, there would be no poor.

Beauty is a dangerous property, tending to corrupt the mind of the wife, though it soon loses its influence over the husband. A figure agreeable and engaging, which inspires affection, without the ebriety of love, is a much safer choice.

Custom is the great leveller. It corrects the inequality of fortune by lessening equally the pleasures of the prince and the pains of the peasant.