Love of fame, fear of disgrace, schemes for advancement, desire to make life comfortable and pleasant, and the urge to humiliate others are often at the root of the valour men hold in such high esteem.

Οur own distrust somewhat justifies the deceit of others.

We are never so happy, nor so unhappy, as we suppose ourselves to be.

Whatever distrust we may have of the sincerity of those who converse with us, we always believe they will tell us more truth than they do to others.

Ideas often flash across our minds more complete than we could make them after much labor.

The generality of friends puts us out of conceit with friendship; just as the generality of religious people puts us out of conceit with religion.

If we judge love by most of its effects, it resembles rather hatred than affection.