Most men, like plants, possess hidden qualities which chance discovers.

To awaken a man who is deceived as to his own merit is to do him as bad a turn as that done to the Athenian madman who was happy in believing that all the ships touching at the port belonged to him.

It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings that we exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their merit, and when we praise them we wish to attract their praise.

However much we may distrust men's sincerity, we always believe they speak to us more sincerely than to others.

Were we perfectly acquainted with the object, we should never passionately desire it.

To safeguard one's health at the cost of too strict a diet is a tiresome illness, indeed.

We often see malefactors, when they are led to execution, put on resolution and a contempt of death which, in truth, is nothing else but fearing to look it in the face--so that this pretended bravery may very truly be said to do the same good office to their mind that the blindfold does to their eyes.