Nothing should lessen our satisfaction with ourselves as much as when we notice that we disapprove of something at one time that we approve of at another time.

To boast that one never flirts is actually a kind of flirtation.

We often are consoled by our want of reason for misfortunes that reason could not have comforted.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.

In the intercourse of life, we please more by our faults than by our good qualities.

The desire to seem clever often keeps us from being so.