We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.

No matter how brilliant an action, it should not be considered great unless it was the result of a great motive.

Those who are overreached by our cunning are far from appearing to us as ridiculous as we appear to ourselves when the cunning of others has overreached us.

Were we not proud ourselves, we should not complain of the pride of others.

In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes the world to believe that he is. Thus we may say that the whole world is made up of appearances.

A woman often thinks she regrets the lover, when she only regrets the love.

All our qualities, whether good or bad, are unstable and ambiguous, and almost all are at the mery of chance.