If we are to judge of love by its consequences, it more nearly resembles hatred than friendship.

We get so much in the habit of wearing disguises before others that we finally appear disguised before ourselves.

We are much harder on people who betray us in small ways than on people who betray others in great ones.

The force we use on ourselves, to prevent ourselves from loving, is often more cruel than the severest treatment at the hands of one loved.

It is more often from pride than from ignorance that we are so obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places taken, and we do not want to be the last.

Loyalty is in most people only a ruse used by self-interest to attract confidence.

Penetration has an air of divination; it pleases our vanity more than any other quality of the mind.