Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation.

Our self-love can less bear to have our tastes than our opinions condemned.

We never desire strongly, what we desire rationally.

None but great men are capable of having great flaws.

It is easier to deceive yourself, and to do so unperceived, than to deceive another.

The appearances of goodness and merit often meet with a greater reward from the world than goodness and merit themselves.

No matter how much care we put into hiding our passions under the appearances of devotion and honor, they can always be seen to peer out through these covers.