Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised.

Idiots and lunatics see only their own wit.

We may sooner be brought to love them that hate us, than them that love us more than we would have them do.

Absence abates a moderate passion and intensifies a great one - as the wind blows out a candle but fans fire into flame.

We always love those who admire us, but we do not always love those whom we admire.

Moderation is represented as a virtue in order to restrain the ambition of great men, and to console those of a meaner condition in their lesser merit and fortune.

The most sure method of subjecting yourself to be deceived is to consider yourself more cunning than others.