There are many things we despise in order that we may not have to despise ourselves.
The lazy are always wanting to do something.
What we call a brilliant thought is usually just a captivating expression which, with the help of a little truth, imposes a surprising error on us.
Virtue is so praiseworthy that wicked people practise it from self-interest.
However we may be reproached for our vanity we sometimes need to be assured of our merits and to have our most obvious advantages pointed out to us.