Timidity is a fault for which it is dangerous to reprove persons whom we wish to correct of it.
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We only confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no big ones.
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Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness.
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The happiness and misery of men depend no less on temper than fortune.
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We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.
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Jealousy is bred in doubts. When those doubts change into certainties, then the passion either ceases or turns absolute madness.
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The accent of one's birthplace remains in the mind and in the heart as in one's speech.
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A work can become modern only if it is first postmodern. Postmodernism thus understood is not modernism at its end but in the nascent state, and this state is constant.
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The sure mark of one born with noble qualities is being born without envy.
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A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.
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The art of using moderate abilities to advantage wins praise, and often acquires more reputation than actual brilliancy.
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We always love those who admire us, but we do not always love those whom we admire.
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Pride does not wish to owe and vanity does not wish to pay.
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Confidence contributes more to conversation than wit.
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Men are more satirical from vanity than from malice.
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The reason why so few people are agreeable in conversation is that each is thinking more about what he intends to say than others are saying.
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Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed.
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To know how to hide one's ability is great skill.
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Our actions are like the terminations of verses, which we rhyme as we please.
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Jealousy contains more of self-love than of love.
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What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one.
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We would frequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that produced them.
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We seldom find any person of good sense, except those who share our opinions.
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There are few virtuous women who are not bored with their trade.
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The sure way to be cheated is to think one's self more cunning than others.
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The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.
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Not all those who know their minds know their hearts as well.
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A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.
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We are more interested in making others believe we are happy than in trying to be happy ourselves.
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Usually we praise only to be praised.
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