Our repentances are generally not so much a concern and remorse for the harm we have done, as a fear of the harm we may have brought upon ourselves.

The extreme pleasure we take in speaking of ourselves should make us apprehensive that it gives hardly any to those who listen to us.

Men give away nothing so liberally as their advice.

Jealousy is not so much the love of another as the love of ourselves.

The most ingenious men continually pretend to condemn tricking--but this is often done that they may use it more conveniently themselves, when some great occasion or interest offers itself to them.

Timidity is a fault for which it is dangerous to reprove persons whom we wish to correct of it.

Weakness is more opposed to virtue than is vice.