True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and nothing but what is necessary.

Self-love is the greatest of all flatterers.

We would rather speak ill of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all.

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

Jealousy lives upon doubts, it becomes madness or ceases entirely as soon as we pass from doubt to certainty.

Plenty of people wish to become devout, but no one wishes to be humble.