Our actions seem to have their lucky and unlucky stars, to which a great part of that blame and that commendation is due which is given to the actions themselves.

Some people displease with merit, and others' very faults and defects are pleasing.

Those only are despicable who fear to be despised.

It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings that we exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their merit, and when we praise them we wish to attract their praise.

It is necessary, in order to know things well, to know the particulars of them; and these, being infinite, make our knowledge eversuperficial and imperfect.

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

What renders other people's vanity insufferable is that it wounds our own.