Were wisdom to be sold, she would give no price; every man is satisfied with the share he has from nature.

Ridicule, which chiefly arises from pride, a selfish passion, is but at best a gross pleasure, too rough an entertainment for those who are highly polished and refined.

The coward reckons himself cautious, the miser frugal.

When you descant on the faults of others, consider whether you be not guilty of the same. To gain knowledge of ourselves, the best way is to convert the imperfections of others into a mirror for discovering our own.

As nice as we are in love, we forgive more faults in that than in friendship.

False praise is always confined to the great.

Great wants proceed from great wealth; but they are undutiful children, for they sink wealth down to poverty.