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.

Pettiness of mind, ignorance and presumption are the cause of stubbornness, because stubborn people only want to believe what they themselves can imagine, and they can imagine very few things.

Those who foolishly pride themselves on their nobility mistake that which makes them noble, for it is only the virtue of their ancestors that gives them noble blood.

We need not regard what good a friend has done us, but only his desire to do us good.

There is little advantage in pleasing ourselves when we please no one else, for our great self-love is often chastised by the scorn of others.

It is an admirable skill to able to sweeten a refusal with civil words which atone for the favor which we are not able to grant.