58.—It would seem that our actions have lucky or unlucky stars to which they owe a great part of the blame or praise which is given them.
59.—There are no accidents so unfortunate from which skilful men will not draw some advantage, nor so fortunate that foolish men will not turn them to their hurt.
60.—Fortune turns all things to the advantage of those on whom she smiles.
61.—The happiness or unhappiness of men depends no less upon their dispositions than their fortunes.
["Still to ourselves in every place consigned Our own felicity we make or find." Goldsmith, Traveller, 431.]
62.—Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in very few people; what we usually see is only an artful dissimulation to win the confidence of others.
63.—The aversion to lying is often a hidden ambition to render our words credible and weighty, and to attach a religious aspect to our conversation.
64.—Truth does not do as much good in the world, as its counterfeits do evil.
65.—There is no praise we have not lavished upon Prudence; and yet she cannot assure to us the most trifling event.
[The author corrected this maxim several times, in 1665 it is No. 75; 1666, No. 66; 1671-5, No. 65; in the last edition it stands as at present. In the first he quotes Juvenal, Sat. X., line 315. " Nullum numen habes si sit Prudentia, nos te; Nos facimus, Fortuna, deam, coeloque locamus." Applying to Prudence what Juvenal does to Fortune, and with much greater force.]