It is motive alone that gives real value to the actions of men, and disinterestedness puts the cap to it.

He who can wait for what he desires takes the course not to be exceedingly grieved if he fails of it; he, on the contrary, who labors after a thing too impatiently thinks the success when it comes is not a recompense equal to all the pains he has been at about it.

False glory is the rock of vanity; it seduces men to affect esteem by things which they indeed possess, but which are frivolous, and which for a man to value himself on would be a scandalous error.

Rarely do they appear great before their valets.

To give awkwardly is churlishness. The most difficult part is to give, then why not add a smile?

Cheats easily believe others as bad as themselves; there is no deceiving them, nor do they long deceive.

A man is thirty years old before he has any settled thoughts of his fortune; it is not completed before fifty. He falls to building in his old age, and dies by the time his house is in a condition to be painted and glazed.