The older a fool is, the worse he is.

Self-love increases or diminishes for us the good qualities of our friends, in proportion to the satisfaction we feel with them; and we judge of their merit by the manner in which they act towards us.

We give advice, but we cannot give the wisdom to profit by it.

Virtues lose themselves in self-interest, as rivers in the sea.

We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.

The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body; after all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind, and they are in continual danger of breaking the skin and bursting out again.

It is great folly to wish to be wise all alone.