You can purchase the mind of Pascal for a crown. Pleasures even cheaper are sold to those who give themselves up to them. It is only luxuries and objects of caprice that are rare and difficult to obtain; unfortunately they are the only things that touch the curiosity and taste of ordinary men.

In a way, the main fault of all books is that they are too long.

Wit does not take the place of knowledge.

Our actions are neither so good nor so evil as our impulses.

Lazy people are always anxious to be doing something.

Whatever affection we have for our friends or relations, the happiness of others never suffices for our own.

Few maxims are true in every respect.