But when all is said, the greatest art is to limit and isolate oneself.

Do people conform to the instructions of us old ones? Each thinks he must know best about himself, and thus many are lost entirely.

In politics people throw themselves, as on a sickbed, from one side to the other in the belief they will lie more comfortably.

Beauty vanishes; virtue is lasting.

We are our own devils; we drive ourselves out of our Edens.

We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves.

The greatest evil that can befall man is that he should come to think ill of himself.