Ideas often flash across our minds more complete than we could make them after much labor.

We often make use of envenomed praise, that reveals on the rebound, as it were, defects in those praised which we dare not exposeany other way.

Self-interest speaks all manner of tongues and plays all manner of parts, even that of disinterestedness.

Perfect behavior is born of complete indifference.

The only good imitations are those that poke fun at bad originals.

Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too.

One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.