The desire of appearing clever often prevents our becoming so.

Those who give too much attention to trifling things become generally incapable of great ones.

We may sooner be brought to love them that hate us, than them that love us more than we would have them do.

Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy they are, who already possess it.

Nothing is rarer than true good nature; they who are reputed to have it are generally only pliant or weak.

Self-love, as it happens to be well or ill conducted, constitutes virtue and vice.

A man of understanding finds less difficulty in submitting to a wrong-headed fellow, than in attempting to set him right.