Our opinions are not our own, but in the power of sympathy. If a person tells us a palpable falsehood, we not only dare not contradict him, but we dare hardly disbelieve him to his face. A lie boldly uttered has the effect of truth for the instant.

True friendship is self-love at second-hand.

Some one is generally sure to be the sufferer by a joke.

No man would, I think, exchange his existence with any other man, however fortunate. We had as lief not be, as not be ourselves.

The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.

The wretched are in this respect fortunate, that they have the strongest yearning after happiness; and to desire is in some sense to enjoy.

The way to get on in the world is to be neither more nor less wise, neither better nor worse than your neighbours.