Pride has a greater share than goodness in the reproofs we give other people for their faults; and we chide them not so much to make them mend those faults as to make them believe that we ourselves are without fault.

We do not wish ardently for what we desire only through reason.

We often persuade ourselves to love people who are more powerful than we are, yet interest alone produces our friendship; we do not give our hearts away for the good we wish to do, but for that we expect to receive.

Few things are needful to make the wise man happy, but nothing satisfies the fool; - and this is the reason why so many of mankind are miserable.

If we are to judge of love by its consequences, it more nearly resembles hatred than friendship.

Reason alone is insufficient to make us enthusiastic in any matter.

Silence is the best security to the man who distrusts himself.