He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts.

Hope is an amusement rather than a good, and adapted to none but very tranquil minds.

Man is a transitory being, and his designs must partake of the imperfections their author.

There is no crime more infamous than the violation of truth. It is apparent that men can be social beings no longer than they believe each other. When speech is employed only as the vehicle of falsehood, every man must disunite himself from others, inhabit his own cave and seek prey only for himself.

Whoever rises above those who once pleased themselves with equality, will have many malevolent gazers at his eminence.

Ease, a neutral state between pain and pleasure ... if it is not rising into pleasure will be falling towards pain.

Men have solicitude about fame; and the greater share they have of it, the more afraid they are of losing it.