To succeed in the world, we must be foolish in appearance, but really wise.

Friendship is a contract in which we render small services in expectation of big ones.

If we only wanted to be happy it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, which is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.

I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.

No kingdom has ever suffered as many civil wars as Christ's.

The corruption of every government begins nearly always with that of principles.

When one wants to change manners and customs, one should not do so by changing the laws.

The majority of men are more capable of great actions than of good ones.

If triangles had a god, he would have three sides.

Useless laws weaken necessary ones.