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.

Truth does less good in the world than its appearances do harm.

The desire to seem clever often keeps us from being so.

It is only persons of firmness that can have real gentleness. Those who appear gentle are, in general, only a weak character, which easily changes into asperity.

We often boast that we are never bored; but yet we are so conceited that we do not perceive how often we bore others.

Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed.

We are lazier in our minds than in our bodies.