Fortune converts everything to the advantage of her favorites.

Few are sufficiently wise to prefer censure which is useful to praise which is treacherous.

Timidity is a fault for which it is dangerous to reprove persons whom we wish to correct of it.

There are various sorts of curiosity; one is from interest, which makes us desire to know that which may be useful to us; and the other, from pride which comes from the wish to know what others are ignorant of.

Whatever good things people say of us, they tell us nothing new.

Taste may change, but inclination never.

Many men are contemptuous of riches; few can give them away.

In jealousy there is more of self-love than love.

Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too.

We seldom praise anyone in good earnest, except such as admire us.

It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend.

The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it.

Quarrels would not last long if the fault were only on one side.