Those that have had great passions esteem themselves for the rest of their lives fortunate and unfortunate in being cured of them.

There are a great many men valued in society who have nothing to recommend them but serviceable vices.

Our actions seem to have their lucky and unlucky stars, to which a great part of that blame and that commendation is due which is given to the actions themselves.

Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance.

Heat of blood makes young people change their inclinations often, and habit makes old ones keep to theirs a great while.

In friendship as well as love, ignorance very often contributes more to our happiness than knowledge.

The happiness and misery of men depend no less on temper than fortune.

Hope, deceiving as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route.

Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.

Love can no more continue without a constant motion than fire can and when once you take hope and fear away, you take from it its very life and being.