Every hour in itself, as it respects us in particular, is the only one we can call our own.

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

Discretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in all the duties of life; cunning is a kind of instinct, that only looks out after our immediate interests and welfare. Discretion is only found in men of strong sense and good understanding; cunning is often to be met with in brutes themselves, and in persons who are but the fewest removes from them.

To be among people one loves, that's sufficient; to dream, to speak to them, to be silent among them, to think of indifferent things; but among them, everything is equal.

We are valued in this world at the rate we desire to be valued.

When we are dead we are praised by those who survive us, though we frequently have no other merit than that of being no longer alive.

Born merely for the purpose of digestion.