"Gratitude is merely the secret hope of..." - Quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld

“Few things are needful to make the wise man happy, but nothing satisfies the fool; - and this is the reason why so many of mankind are miserable.”

“Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one side.”

“The older a fool is, the worse he is.”

“And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives. Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings; For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free hearted earth for mother, and God for father.”

“So long as we are receivers of mercy, we must be givers of thanks.”

“I am grateful for the blessings of wealth, but it hasn't changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I'm just wearing better shoes.”

“But what can a decent man speak of with most pleasure? Answer: Of himself. Well, so I will talk about myself.”

“Our consciences take no notice of pain inflicted on others until it reaches a point where it gives pain to us.”

“His own enjoyment, or his own ease, was, in every particular, his ruling principle.”