Boredom ... causes us to neglect more duties than does interest.

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

How can we expect another to keep our secret if we have been unable to keep it ourselves?

Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not readily suspect them in others.

Whatever good things people say of us, they tell us nothing new.

When we enlarge upon the affection our friends have for us, this is very often not so much out of a sense of gratitude as from a desire to persuade people of our own great worth, that can deserve so much kindness.

It is often hard to determine whether a clear, open, and honorable proceeding is the result of goodness or of cunning.