Although most friendships that exist do not merit the name, we can nevertheless make use of them in accordance with our needs, as a kind of commercia….

It is a very common failing, never to be pleased with our fortune nor displeased with our character..

The foolish acts of others ought to serve more as a lesson to us than an occasion to laugh at those who commit them..

The maxims of Christian life, which should draw upon the truths of the Gospel, are always partially symbolic of the mind and temperament of those who….

There is no one who cannot derive great help and great benefit from learning; but there are also only a few people who do not receive a great harm fr….

Self-love makes us deceive ourselves in almost all matters, to censure others, and to blame them for the same faults that we do not correct in oursel….

There is no more reason to accuse ourselves excessively of our failings than to excuse them overmuch. He who goes overboard in self-criticism often d….

We so love all new and unusual things that we even derive a secret pleasure from the saddest and most tragic events, both because of their novelty an….

One cannot always bestow all manner of things upon everybody. To refuse a request for just cause is as praiseworthy as to grant a request that is wor….

This imperiousness which aids us in all things is merely a fitting authority which comes from superior spirit..

Self-love is even deceived by self-love, because by looking out for our own interests and disregarding those of other people, we lose the advantage t….

The ties of virtue ought to be closer than the ties of blood, since the good man is closer to another good man by their similarity of morals than the….

We must accustom ourselves to the follies of others and not be astonished at the foolishness that takes place in our presence..

We prefer people who are trying to imitate us more than those who are trying to equal us. This is because imitation is a sign of esteem, but the desi….

Nothing can tell us so much about the general lawlessness of humanity as a perfect acquaintance with our own immoderate behavior. If we would think o….

True merit does not depend on the times or on fashion. Those who have no other advantage than courtly manners lose it when they are away from court. ….

It is a strength of character to acknowledge our failings and our strong points, and it is a weakness of character not to remain in harmony with both….

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..

Pettiness of mind, ignorance and presumption are the cause of stubbornness, because stubborn people only want to believe what they themselves can ima….

When an opinionated person starts to challenge something, his mind shuts out all that could clear up the matter. The argument irritates him, however ….

In knowledge of human affairs, we should never allow our minds to be enslaved by others by subjecting ourselves to their whims. We must maintain free….