Perfect friendship puts us under the necessity of being virtuous. As it can only be preserved among estimable persons, it forces us to resemble them. You find in friendship the surety of good counsel, the emulation of good example, sympathy in our griefs, succor in our distress.

Would you be esteemed? Live with persons that are estimable.

Temperance adds zest to pleasure.

Politeness costs little and yields much.

We live with our defects as with the odors we carry about us: we do not perceive them, but they incommode those who approach us.

Simplicity is oftenest an adroit pretence.

We like to know the weakness of eminent persons; it consoles us for our inferiority.