"What we take for virtue is often..." - Quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld

“When we seek reconciliation with our enemies, it is commonly out of a desire to better our own condition, a being harassed and tired out with a state of war, and a fear of some ill accident which we are willing to prevent.”

“The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.”

“It is sometimes a point of as much cleverness to know to make good use of advice from others as to be able give good advice to oneself.”

“The State which we have founded must possess the four cardinal virtues of wisdom, courage, discipline and justice ... Justice is the principle which has in fact been followed throughout, the principle of one man one job, of minding one s own business , in the sense of doing the job for which one is naturally fitted and not interfering with other people.”

“Some reformers may urge that in the ages distant future, patriotism, like the habit of monogamous marriage, will become a needless and obsolete virtue; but just at present the man who loves other countries as much as he does his own is quite as noxious a member of society as the man who loves other women as much as he loves his wife. Love of country is an elemental virtue, like love of home.”

“Happiness may be defined as good fortune joined to virtue, or a independence, or as a life that is both agreeable and secure.”

“Old age is when the liver spots show through your gloves.”

“Society, civilized society at least, is never very ready to believe anything to the detriment of those who are both rich and fascinating. It feels instinctively that manners are of more importance than morals, and, in its opinion, the highest respectability is of much less value than the possession of a good chef.”

“The sturdiest virtue seems fragile.”