I believe, indeed, that it is more laudable to suffer great misfortunes than to do great things.

Politeness has been defined to be artificial good-nature; but we may affirm, with much greater propriety, that good-nature is natural politeness.

We rise to fortune by successive steps; we descend by only one.

Is it not astonishing that the love of repose keeps us in continual agitation?

Reason shows us our duty; he who can make us love our duty is more powerful than reason itself.

Misers are very kind people: they amass wealth for those who wish their death.

The instability of our tastes is the occasion of the irregularity of our lives.