Honest and sincere acts mislead the wicked and cause them to lose their path to their own goals, because mean-spirited people usually believe that people never act without deceit.

We think highly of men when we do not know the extent of their capabilities, for we always suppose that more exists when we only see half.

Study and research into truth often only serves to make us see by experience our natural ignorance.

It is a very common failing, never to be pleased with our fortune nor displeased with our character.

It is vain and useless to survey everything that goes on in the world if our study does not help us mend our ways.

Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially those with a smattering of learning, are the most likely to be opinionated. Only strong minds know how to correct their opinions and abandon a bad position.

There is as much wisdom in soliciting good counsel as in giving it. The most sensible people are not reluctant to consider the feelings of other people; and to know how to submit to the wise guidance of others is a kind of wisdom in itself.