We are much harder on people who betray us in small ways than on people who betray others in great ones.

We confess to little faults only to persuade ourselves we have no great ones.

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

What we take for virtue is often nothing but an assemblage of different actions, and of different interests, that fortune or our industry knows how to arrange.

We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.

In the presence of some people we inevitably depart From ourselves: we are inaccurate, we say things we do not feel, And talk nonsense. When we get home we are conscious that we Have made fools of ourselves. Never go near these people.

The most sure method of subjecting yourself to be deceived is to consider yourself more cunning than others.