Flattery is a base coin which is current only through our vanity.

The art of putting into play mediocre qualities often begets more reputation than is achieved by true merit.

In the intercourse of life, we please more by our faults than by our good qualities.

It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend.

Happiness does not consist in things themselves but in the relish we have of them.

It is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is to listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that that will ever give ground or regret.

The name and pretense of virtue is as serviceable to self-interest as are real vices.