God sends the cold according to the coat.

Pythagoras used to say that life resembles the Olympic Games: a few people strain their muscles to carry off a prize; others bring trinkets to sell to the crowd for gain; and some there are, and not the worst, who seek no other profit than to look at the show and see how and why everything is done; spectators of the life of other people in order to judge and regulate their own.

Truth and reason are common to everyone, and are no more his who spake them first than his who speaks them after.

The desire for riches is more sharpened by their use than by their need. Pleasing all: a mark that can never be aimed at or hit.

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

A strong memory is commonly coupled with infirm judgment.

Once conform, once do what others do because they do it, and a kind of lethargy steals over all the finer senses of the soul.