Those whom the world has delighted to honor have oftener been influenced in their doings by ambition and vanity than by patriotism.

We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.

I always say to myself, what is the most important thing we can think about at this extraordinary moment.

Instead of considering that the worst way to persuade or please others is to try thus strongly to please ourselves, and that to listen well and to answer well are some of the greatest charms we can have in conversation.

Gratitude is a lively sense of benefits to come.

Sometimes we think we dislike flattery, but it is only the way it is done that we dislike.

The boldest stroke and best act of friendship is not to disclose our own failings to a friend, but to show him his own.