We do not despise all those who have vices, but we do despise those that have no virtue.

The desire to seem clever often keeps us from being so.

One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.

We should wish for few things with eagerness, if we perfectly knew the nature of that which was the object of our desire.

It's the height of folly to want to be the only wise one.

Without humility, we keep all our defects; and they are only crusted over by pride, which conceals them from others, and often from ourselves.

A readiness to believe ill of others, before we have duly examined it, is the effect of laziness and pride. We are eager to find aculprit, and loath to give ourselves the trouble of examining the crime.