For men can endure to hear others praised only so long as they can severally persuade themselves of their own ability to equal the actions recounted: when this point is passed, envy comes in and with it incredulity.

For if many ill-conceived plans have succeeded through the still greater lack of judgment of an opponent, many more, apparently well laid, have on the contrary ended in disgrace. The confidence with which we form our schemes is never completely justified in their execution; speculation is carried on in safety, but, when it comes to action, fear causes failure.

In a democracy, someone who fails to get elected to office can always console himself with the thought that there was something not quite fair about it.

Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris

Indeed it is generally the case that men are readier to call rogues clever than simpletons honest, and are ashamed of being the second as they are proud of being the first.

Those who have experienced good and bad luck many times have every reason to be skeptical of successes

For men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.