It is a great misfortune neither to have enough wit to talk well nor enough judgment to be silent.

Too great carelessness, equally with excess in dress, multiplies the wrinkles of old age, and makes its decay still more conspicuous.

Men fall from great fortune because of the same shortcomings that led to their rise.

It is in vain to ridicule a rich fool, for the laughers will be on his side.

Both as to high and low indifferently, men are prepossessed, charmed, fascinated by success; successful crimes are praised very much like virtue itself, and good fortune is not far from occupying the place of the whole cycle of virtues. It must be an atrocious act, a base and hateful deed, which success would not be able to justify.

If this life is unhappy, it is a burden to us, which it is difficult to bear; if it is in every respect happy, it is dreadful to be deprived of it; so that in either case the result is the same, for we must exist in anxiety and apprehension.

Wit is the god of moments, but Genius is the god of ages.