We always love those who admire us, but we do not always love those whom we admire.

Sometimes we lose friends for whose loss our regret is greater than our grief, and others for whom our grief is greater than our regret.

People that are conceited of their own merit take pride in being unfortunate, that themselves and others may think them considerable enough to be the envy and the mark of fortune.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

Vices are ingredients of virtues just as poisons are ingredients of remedies. Prudence mixes and tempers them and uses them effectively against life's ills.

We often bore others when we think we cannot possibly bore them.

We are much harder on people who betray us in small ways than on people who betray others in great ones.