We are nearer loving those who hate us than those who love us more than we wish.

Virtue would go far if vanity did not keep it company.

We feel good and ill only in proportion to our self-love.

Some weak people are so sensible of their weakness as to be able to make a good use of it.

Nature has concealed at the bottom of our minds talents and abilities of which we are not aware.

Absence cools moderate passions, and inflames violent ones; just as the wind blows out candles, but kindles fires.

We are inconsolable at being deceived by our enemies and being betrayed by our friends, yet we are often content in be being treated like that by our own selves.