I have been formerly so silly as to hope that every servant I had might be made a friend; I am now convinced that the nature of servitude generally bears a contrary tendency. People's characters are to be chiefly collected from their education and place in life; birth itself does but little.

Prudent men lock up their motives, letting familiars have a key to their hearts, as to their garden.

What leads to unhappiness is making pleasure the chief aim.

Taste and good-nature are universally connected.

It happens a little unluckily that the persons who have the most infinite contempt of money are the same that have the strongest appetite for the pleasures it procures.

Love can be founded upon Nature only.

Immoderate assurance is perfect licentiousness.