Watchfulness is the only guard against cunning. Be intent on his intentions. Many succeed in making others do their own affairs, and unless you possess the key to their motives you may at any moment be forced to take their chestnuts out of the fire to the damage of your own fingers.

We often have to put up with most from those on whom we most depend.

Exaggeration is a branch of lying.

The greatest wisdom often consist in ignorance.

A person of your century: Great persons are of their time. Not all were born into a period worthy of them, and many so born failed to benefit by it. Some merited a better century, for all that is good does not always triumph. Fashions have their periods and even the greatest virtues, their styles. But the philosopher, being ageless, has one advantage: Should this not prove the right century, many to follow will.

Sometimes it proves the highest understanding not to understand.

Nature scarcely ever gives us the very best; for that we must have recourse to art.