In the intercourse of life, we please more by our faults than by our good qualities.

Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.

We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.

Jealousy is in some measure just and reasonable, since it merely aims at keeping something that belongs to us or we think belongsto us, whereas envy is a frenzy that cannot bear anything that belongs to others.

Self-love increases or diminishes for us the good qualities of our friends, in proportion to the satisfaction we feel with them; and we judge of their merit by the manner in which they act towards us.

Weak people cannot be sincere.

They that apply themselves to trifling matters commonly become incapable of great ones.