Happy People Rarely Correct Their Faults; They

Ridicule Dishonours More Than Dishonour.

We Are Not Fond Of Praising, And Never Praise Any One Except From Interested Motives. Praise Is A Clever, Concealed, And Delicate Flattery, Which Gratifies In Different Ways The Giver And The Receiver. The One Takes It As A Recompense Of His Merit, And The Other Bestows It To Display His Equity And Discernment.

To Know How To Hide One's Ability Is Great Skill.

L'absence Diminue Les Mediocres Passions, Et Augmente Les Grandes,comme Le Vent Eteint Les Bougies, Et Allume Le Feu. Absence Diminishes Commonplace Passions, And Increases Great Ones, As Wind Extinguishes Candles And Kindles Fire.

Love Of Glory, Fear Of Shame, Greed For Fortune, The Desire To Make Life Agreeable And Comfortable, And The Wish To Depreciate Others - All Of These Are Often The Causes Of The Bravery That Is Spoken So Highly Of By Men.