Virtues lose themselves in self-interest, as rivers in the sea.
We often credit ourselves with vices the reverse of what we have, thus when weak we boast of our obstinacy.
We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.
The gallantry of the mind consists in agreeable flattery.
The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.
To establish ourselves in the world, we have to do all we can to appear established. To succeed in the world, we do everything we can to appear successful.