We speak little if not egged on by vanity.

It is only persons of firmness that can have real gentleness. Those who appear gentle are, in general, only a weak character, which easily changes into asperity.

Tricks and treachery are merely proofs of lack of skill.

What makes vanity so insufferable to us, is that it hurts our own.

The esteem of good men is the reward of our worth, but the reputation of the world in general is the gift of our fate.

The reason that lovers never weary each other is because they are always talking about themselves.

We exaggerate the glory of some men in order to detract from that of others.