What often prevents our abandoning ourselves to a single vice is, our having more than one.

Smallness of mind is the cause of stubbornness, and we do not credit readily what is beyond our view.

Raillery is more insupportable than wrong; because we have a right to resent injuries, but are ridiculous in being angry at a jest.

The tranquility or agitation of our temper does not depend so much on the big things which happen to us in life, as on the pleasant or unpleasant arrangements of the little things which happen daily.

The greatest part of our faults are more excusable than the methods that are commonly taken to conceal them.

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

Pity is often a reflection of our own evils in the ills of others. It is a delicate foresight of the troubles into which we may fall.