What makes lovers never tire of one another is that they talk always about themselves.

We label judges with having the meanest motives, and yet we desire that our reputation and fame should depend upon the judgment of men, who are all, either from their jealousy or preoccupation or want of intelligence, opposed to us - and yet despite their bias, just for the sake of making these men decide in our favor, we peril in so many ways both our peace and our life.

Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation.

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

Virtue is to the soul what health is tot he body.

Pride indemnifies itself and loses nothing even when it casts away vanity.

The hunger for applause is the source for all conscious literature and heroism