“To say that private men have nothing to do with government is to say that private men have nothing to do with their own happiness or misery; that people ought not to concern themselves whether they be naked or clothed, fed or starved, deceived or instructed, protected or destroyed.”

Should anyone attempt to deceive you by false expressions, and not be a true friend at heart, act in the same manner, and thus art will defeat art. [If you would catch a man let him think he is catching you.]

In conversation avoid the extremes of forwardness and reserve.

Since it has such a remembrance of the best, such a concern for the future, since it is enriched with so many arts, sciences, and discoveries, it is impossible but the being which contains all these must be immortal.

By Liberty I understand the Power which every Man has over his own Actions, and his Right to enjoy the Fruits of his Labour,

Consider it the greatest of all virtues to restrain the tongue.

It will make you feel as if you had not eaten, and you can drink as much as you like.

In doing nothing men learn to do evil.

Speak briefly and to the point.

I will begin to speak, when I have that to say which had not better be unsaid.

Those magistrates who can prevent crime, and do not, in effect encourage it.

Consider in silence whatever any one says: speech both conceals and reveals the inner soul of man.

Do not expect good from another’s death.

Some have said that it is not the business of private men to meddle with government–a bold and dishonest saying, which is fit to come from no mouth but that of a tyrant or a slave.

Bitter are the roots of study, but how sweet their fruit.

Flee sloth; for the indolence of the soul is the decay of the body.

I think the first wisdom is to restrain the tongue.

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.

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

The surest way to be deceived is to consider oneself cleverer than others.

We are so used to dissembling with others that in time we come to deceive and dissemble with ourselves.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.

And those who do good deeds are deceived, except those who are sincere; and those who are sincere are always in a state of worry.