Mutability is the badge of infirmity.—It is seldom that a man continues to wish and design the same thing for two days alike.
—Pierre Charron
To owe an obligation to a worthy friend, is a happiness, and can be no disparagement.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Obligation
Those who have nothing else to recommend them to the respect of others but only their blood, cry it up at a great rate, and have their mouths perpetually full of it.—By this mark they commonly distinguish themselves; but you may depend upon it there is no good bottom, nothing of the true worth of their own when they insist so much and set their credit on that of others.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Birth
As full ears load and lay down corn, so does too much fortune bend and break the mind. It deserves to be considered, too, as another disadvantage, that affliction moves pity, and reconciles our very enemies, but prosperity provokes envy, and loses us our very friends.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Prosperity
Wise men mingle mirth with their cares, as a help either to forget or overcome them; but to resort to intoxication for the ease of one’s mind, is to cure melancholy by madness.
—Pierre Charron
The advice of friends must be received with a judicious reserve: we must not give ourselves up to it and follow it blindly, whether right or wrong.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Advice
Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Pleasure
In company it is a very great fault to be more forward in setting off one’s self, and talking to show one’s parts, than to learn the worth, and be truly acquainted with the abilities of men.—He that makes it his business not to know, but to be known, is like a foolish tradesman, who makes all the haste he can to sell off his old stock, but takes no thought of laying in any new.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Conversation
The true science and study of man, is man himself.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Science
Despair is like froward children, who, when you take away one of their play things, throw the rest into the fire for madness. It grows angry with itself, turns its own executioner, and revenges its misfortunes on its own head.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Despair
We ought not to judge of men’s merits by their qualifications, but by the use they make of them.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Wisdom
Whatever difference there may appear to be in men’s fortunes, there is still a certain compensation of good and ill in all, that makes them equal.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Equality
The certain way to be cheated is to fancy one’s self more cunning than others.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Cunning, Deception, Cheating, Deception/Lying
Riches should be admitted into our houses, but not into our hearts; we may take them into our possession, but not into our affections.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Riches
He who receives a benefit should never forget it; he who bestows should never remember it.
—Pierre Charron
Topics: Gratitude
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