We are not slow at discovering the selfishness of others; for this plain reason--because it clashes with our own.

We are oftener deceived by being told some truth than no truth.

Man is said to be a rational creature; but should it not rather be said, that man is a creature capable of being rational, as we say a parrot is a creature capable of speech?

No man was ever so much deceived by another as by himself.

Every character is in some respects uniform, and in others inconsistent; and it is only by the study both of the uniformity and inconsistency, and a comparison of them with each other, that the knowledge of man is acquired.

It would be doing cunning too much honor to call it an inferior species of true discernment.

Might not most men be as well named boys grown old.