One is never as unhappy as one thinks, nor as happy as one hopes.

It is easier to know man in general than to know one man in particular.

There is scarcely a single man clever enough to know all the evil he does.

The trust that we put in ourselves makes us feel trust in others.

The art of using moderate abilities to advantage often brings greater results than actual brilliance.

Ability wins us the esteem of the true men; luck that of the people.

The man whom no one pleases is much more unhappy than the man who pleases no one.

The most dangerous folly of old people who were once attractive is to forget that they are not so any longer.

The sort of liveliness which increases with age is not far distant from madness.

There are very few women in society whose virtue outlasts their beauty.