The desire to be singular and to astonish by ways out of the common seems to me to be the source of many virtues.

Long life will sometimes obscure the star of fame.

If we could have a little patience, we should escape much mortification; time takes away as much as it gives.

... we ought to be astonished at nothing; for what do we not meet with in our journey through life?

. . . it seldom happens, I think, that a man has the civility to die when all the world wishes it.

We like no noise unless we make it ourselves.

When we reckon without Providence, we must frequently reckon twice.