The coward reckons himself cautious, the miser frugal.

False praise is always confined to the great.

Nothing more excites to everything noble and generous, than virtuous love.

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.

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.

An agreeable figure and winning manner, which inspire affection without love, are always new. Beauty loses its relish, the graces never, after the longest acquaintance, they are no less agreeable than at first.

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