The most sure method of subjecting yourself to be deceived is to consider yourself more cunning than others.

A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates vivid, agreeable, and natural fancies, places them in their best light, clothes them with all appropriate adornments, studies others' tastes, and clears away from its own thoughts all that is useless and disagreeable.

In friendship as well as love, ignorance very often contributes more to our happiness than knowledge.

Smallness of mind is the cause of stubbornness, and we do not credit readily what is beyond our view.

Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance.

The mind cannot long play the heart's role.

A certain harmony should be kept between actions and ideas if we want to fully develop the effects they can produce.