We should not be upset that others hide the truth from us, when we hide it so often from ourselves.

We acknowledge that we should not talk of our wives; but we seem not to know that we should talk still less of ourselves.

Our greediness so often troubles us, making us run after so many things at the same time, that while we too eagerly look after the least we miss the greatest.

Our good qualities expose us more to hatred and persecution than all the ill we do.

We are inconsolable at being deceived by our enemies and being betrayed by our friends, yet we are often content in be being treated like that by our own selves.

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.

Everyone blames his memory, no one blames his judgment.