Every man, in his own opinion, forms an exception to the ordinary rules of morality.

The fear of approaching death, which in youth we imagine must cause inquietude to the aged, is very seldom the source of much uneasiness.

Liberty is the only true riches: of all the rest we are at once the masters and the slaves.

Most of the methods for measuring the lapse of time have, I believe, been the contrivance of monks and religious recluses, who, finding time hang heavy on their hands, were at some pains to see how they got rid of it.

The vain man makes a merit of misfortune, and triumphs in his disgrace.

Of all virtues, magnanimity is the rarest. There are a hundred persons of merit for one who willingly acknowledges it in another.

A great chessplayer is not a great man, for he leaves the world as he found it.