Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

When men receive favours from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under a greater obligation to their benefactor.

It is a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather.

By the delusions of seeming good the people are often misled to desire their own ruin; and they are frequently influenced by great hopes and brave promises.

The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can.but when they cannot do so, yet wish to do so by any means, then there is folly and blame.

One should never fall in the belief that you can find someone to pick you up.

Then also pretexts for seizing property are never wanting, and one who begins to live by rapine will always find some reason for taking the goods of others, whereas causes for taking life are rarer and more quickly destroyed.