It is base to take advantage of our rank or greatness by making fun of those placed beneath us in life.

There is always enough self-love hidden beneath the greatest devoutness to set limits on charity.

We often value the exterior and superficial aspect of things more than their inner reality. Bad manners taint everything even justice and reason. The 'how' of things matters most, and even the most disagreeable matters can be sweetened and gilded over with the proper appearance. Such is the bias and the weakness of the human mind.

Sometimes we praise the way things used to be in order to blame the present, and we esteem what is no longer in order to scorn what is.

This imperiousness which aids us in all things is merely a fitting authority which comes from superior spirit.

Although we should not love our friends for the good that they do us, it is a sign that they do not love us much if they do not do us good when they have the power to do so.

Criticism should awaken our attention, not inflame our anger. We should listen to, and not flee from, those who contradict us. Truth should be our cause, no matter in what manner it comes to us.