The desire to be thought clever often prevents a man from becoming so.

The happiness and unhappiness of men depends as much on their ethics as on fortune.

Our repentances are generally not so much a concern and remorse for the harm we have done, as a fear of the harm we may have brought upon ourselves.

No man is clever enough to know all the evil he does.

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.

The surest way to be deceived is to consider oneself cleverer than others.

A readiness to believe ill of others, before we have duly examined it, is the effect of laziness and pride. We are eager to find aculprit, and loath to give ourselves the trouble of examining the crime.