“One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.”

Neither the sun nor death can be looked at with a steady eye.

We do not despise all those who have vices, but we do despise those that have no virtue.

Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrust himself.

We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones.

Men give away nothing so liberally as their advice.

Conceit causes more conversation than wit.

Jealousy is bred in doubts. When those doubts change into certainties, then the passion either ceases or turns absolute madness.

Usually we praise only to be praised.

It is not in the power of even the most crafty dissimulation to conceal love long, where it really is, nor to counterfeit it long where it is not.

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

When a man must force himself to be faithful in his love, this is hardly better than unfaithfulness.

Confidence contributes more to conversation than wit.

The reason that lovers never weary each other is because they are always talking about themselves.

There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune; it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things; it is a price which we imperceptibly set upon ourselves.

In love we often doubt what we most believe.

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

Awards are not something that I measure my work by. I’ve been so fortunate and I’ve gotten to do such terrific things that it seems petty to look back and say, ‘Oh, I should have gotten that prize.’ I’ve been so blessed, it’s hard to look back and think anything but that, so I have no disappointments.

I’ve had my run in with trouble. Fortunately, you know, one slap on the hand is usually the last time for me… I learned my lesson.

The more cultured a man, the less fortunate he is.

Years hence, perhaps, may dawn an age, More fortunate, alas! than we, Which without hardness will be sage, And gay without frivolity.

I don’t know if I believe in luck. I think I’m very fortunate.

Don’t let your heart depend on things That ornament life in a fleeting way! He who possesses, let him learn to lose, He who is fortunate, let him learn pain.

We can never replace a friend. When a man is fortunate enough to have several, he finds they are all different. No one has a double in friendship.

The highest test of the civilization of any race is in its willingness to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate.