It is far better to be deceived than undeceived by those whom we tenderly love.
Fancy sets the value on the gifts of fortune.
Self-love is more cunning than the most cunning man in the world.
Men more easily renounce their interests than their tastes.
Generally speaking, we would make a good bargain by renouncing all the good that people say of us, upon condition they would say no ill.
We do not like to praise, and seldom praise anyone without self-interest.
Pride has a greater share than goodness in the reproofs we give other people for their faults; and we chide them not so much to make them mend those faults as to make them believe that we ourselves are without fault.
Nothing is more contagious than example, and no man does any exceeding good or exceeding ill but it spawns new deeds of the same kind. The good we imitate through emulation, the ill through the malignity of our nature, which shame keeps locked up, but example sets free.
Men are often so foolish as to boast and value themselves upon their passions, even those that are most vicious. But envy is a passion so full of cowardice and shame that no one every ever had the confidence to own it.
The passions of youth are not more dangerous to health than is the lukewarmness of old age.
A respectable man may love madly, but not foolishly.
In love deceit almost always outstrips distrust.
Lovers, when they are no longer in love, find it very hard to break up.
It is easier to rule others than to keep from being ruled oneself.
The esteem of good men is the reward of our worth, but the reputation of the world in general is the gift of our fate.
There are some people upon whom their very faults and failings sit gracefully; and there are others whose very excellencies and accomplishments do not become them.
Eloquence resides as much in the tone of voice, in the eyes, and in the expression of the face, as in the choice of words.
Bravery in simple soldiers is a dangerous trade, to which they have bound themselves to get their livelihood.
The breeding we give young people is ordinarily but an additional self-love, by which we make them have a better opinion of themselves.
All men are equally proud. The only difference is that not all take the same methods of showing it.
What we cut off from our other faults is very often but so much added to our pride.
We often brag that we are never bored with ourselves, and are so vain as never to think ourselves bad company.
A weak mind is the only defect out of our power to mend.
It is often hard to determine whether a clear, open, and honorable proceeding is the result of goodness or of cunning.
The moderation of men in the most exalted fortunes is a desire to be thought above those things that have raised them so high.
