No man can have much kindness for him by whom he does not believe himself esteemed, and nothing so evidently proves esteem as imitation.

Self-love is often rather arrogant than blind; it does not hide our faults from ourselves, but persuades us that they escape the notice of others.

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.

You never find people laboring to convince you that you may live very happily upon a plentiful income.

Most men are unwilling to be taught.

Ignorance, madam, pure ignorance.

Riches are of no value in themselves; their use is discovered only in that which they procure.