Sincerity is a certain openness of heart. It is to be found in very few, and what we commonly look upon to be so is only a cunningsort of dissimulation, to insinuate ourselves into the confidence of others.

It is a species of coquetry to make a parade of never practising it.

The most clever and polite are content with only seeming attentive while we perceive in their mind and eyes that at the very time they are wandering from what is said and desire to return to what they want to say.

It is harder to hide the feelings we have than to feign the ones we do not have.

Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too.

Silence is the best tactic for he who distrusts himself.

Things often offer themselves to our mind in a more finished form in the very first thought, than we might have made them by muchart and study.