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.
There are many things we despise in order that we may not have to despise ourselves.
The lazy are always wanting to do something.
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.