Our aversion to lying is commonly a secret ambition to make what we say considerable, and have every word received with a religious respect.

Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.

Humility is often only feigned submission which people use to render others submissive. It is a subterfuge of pride which lowers itself in order to rise.

We should not be upset that others hide the truth from us, when we hide it so often from ourselves.

To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.

We should often blush at our noblest deeds if the world were to see all their underlying motives.

Solemnity is a device of the body to hide the faults of the mind.