Neither blame or praise yourself.
Friendship is the most pleasant of all things, and nothing more glads the heart of man.
In words are seen the state of mind and character and disposition of the speaker.
It is the admirer of himself, and not the admirer of virtue, that thinks himself superior to others.
To fail to do good is as bad as doing harm.
Blinded as they are to their true character by self-love, every man is his own first and chiefest flatterer, prepared, therefore, to welcome the flatterer from the outside, who only comes confirming the verdict of the flatterer within.