Woe to falsehood! it affords no relief to the breast, like truth; it gives us no comfort, pains him who forges it, and like an arrow directed by a god flies back and wounds the archer.

The world sees only the reflection of merit; therefore when you come to know a really great man intimately, you may as often find him above as below his reputation.

Mankind? That is an abstraction. There have always been and always will be only individuals.

Self-love exaggerates our faults as well as our virtues.

The people rate strength before everything.

It seems to never occur to fools that merit and good fortune are closely united.

And step by step, along the path of life, There's nothing true but Heaven.