How few our real wants, and how vast our imaginary ones!

Where there is much pretension, much has been borrowed; nature never pretends.

The affectation of sanctity is a blotch on the face of piety.

Truth, wisdom, love, seek reasons; malice only seeks causes.

The true friend of truth and good loves them under all forms, but he loves them most under the most simple form.

He who freely praises what he means to purchase, and he who enumerates the faults of what he means to sell, may set up a partnership with honesty.

True philosophy is that which renders us to ourselves, and all others who surround us, better, and at the same time more content, more patient, more calm and more ready for all decent and pure enjoyment.