The great and glorious masterpiece of men is to live to the point. All other things-to reign, to hoard, to build-are, at most, but inconsiderable props and appendages.

A man never speaks of himself without losing something. What he says in his disfavor is always beleived, but when he commends himself, he arouses mistrust.

The laws of conscience, which we pretend to be derived from nature, proceed from Custom.

Oh, a friend! How true is that old saying, that the enjoyment of one is sweeter and more necessary than that of the elements of water and fire!

Everyone calls barbarity what he is not accustomed to.

If I speak of myself in different ways, that is because I look at myself in different ways.

Every other knowledge is harmful to him who does not have knowledge of goodness.