We are never so easily deceived as when we imagine we are deceiving others.

What renders us so bitter against those who trick us is that they believe themselves to be more clever than we are.

Though men pride themselves on their great actions, often they are not the result of any great design but of chance.

It is more often from pride than from defective understanding that people oppose established opinions: they find the best places taken in the good party and are reluctant to accept inferior ones.

It is more shameful to mistrust one's friends than to be deceived by them.

Whilst weakness and timidity keep us to our duty, virtue has often all the honour for it.

Eloquence lies as much in the tone of the voice, in the eyes, and in the speaker's manner, as in his choice of words.

True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.

The head does not know how to play the part of the heart for long.

Our enemies approach nearer to truth in their judgments of us than we do ourselves.