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.

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.

All the world says of a coxcomb that he is a coxcomb; but no one dares to say so to his face, and he dies without knowing it.

It is the glory and merit of some men to write well and of others not to write at all.

It is worse to apprehend than to suffer.

The exact contrary of what is generally believed is often the truth.