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403.

We love those who endeavour to imitate us, better than those who strive to equal us; for imitation is a sign of esteem, but competition of envy.—Ib.

404.

Our approbation of those who are entering into the world, is often owing to a secret envy of those who are well settled in it.-Ib.

405.

Familiarity is a suspension of almost all the laws of civility, which libertinism has introduced into society under the notion of ease.—Ib.

406.

Pride which excites envy, often helps to moderate it.-Ib.

407.

The hatred of favourites is nothing more than the love of favours. Onr indignation at not possessing it ourselves, is soothed and mitigated by the contempt we express for those who do; and we refuse them our homage, because we are not able to deprive them of that which procures them the homage of every one else.--Ib.

408.

A great genius will sincerely acknowledge both his defects and perfections: for it is a weakness not to own the ill as well as the good that is in us.—Ib.

409.

If we had no faults ourselves, we should not take pleasure in observing those of others.-Ib.

410.

There are people who are disagreeable with great merit; and others who, with great faults, are agreeable.-Ib.

411.

We acknowledge our faults in order to repair, by our sincerity, the hurt they do us in the opinion of the world.-Ib.

412.

We confess small faults in order to insinuate that we have no great ones.-Ib.

413.

We have not assurance enough to say, in general, that we have no faults, and that our enemies have no good qualities; but in particulars we seem to think so. Ib.

414.

We should have but little pleasure were we never to flatter ourselves.-Ib.

415.

Did we not flatter ourselves, the flattery of others could never hurt us.-Ib.

416.

Flattery is a sort of bad money, to which our vanity gives currency.-Ib.

417.

Men sometimes think they hate flattery; but they only hate the manner of it.-Ib.

418.

The happiness and misery of men, depend no less on their temper than their fortune.-Ib.

419.

The generality of people judge of men by their reputation or fortune.—Ib.

420.

Fortune and caprice govern the world.—Ib.

421.

Self-love magnifies or diminishes the good qualities of our friends, in proportion to the satisfaction we take in them, and we judge of their merit by the terms they keep with us.-16.

422.

Most men, like plants, have secret properties, which chance discovers.-Ib.

423.

Few are so wise as to prefer useful reproof to treacherous praise.—Ib.

424.

There are reproaches which praise, and praises which reproach.—Ib.

425.

A refusal of praise, is a desire to be praised twice.-Ib.

426.

That modesty which seems to decline praise, is only a desire to be praised more delicately.—Ib.

427.

Our bad actions do not expose us to so much persecution and hatred as our good qualities.-Ib.

428.

Quarrels would never last long, if the fault were on one side only.—Ib.

429.

We never desire ardently what we desire rationally.—Ib.

430.

Self-love makes men idolize themselves and tyrannize over others when fortune gives the means.—Ib.

431.

An extraordinary haste to discharge an obligation, is a sort of ingratitude.—Ib.

432.

We seldom find people ungrateful as long as we are in a condition to serve them.-Ib.

433.

Every one complains of his memory, but nobody of his judgment.-16.

434.

As it is not in our power to love any more than to let it alone, a lover has no right to complain of his mistress's inconstancy, nor she of her lover's levity.—Ib.

435.

Love, like fire, cannot subsist without continual motion, and ceases to exist, as soon as it ceases to hope or fear.—Ib.

436.

The pleasure of love is loving; and we are much happier in the passion we feel, than in that we excite.-16.

437.

It is much easier to fall in love, than to get rid of it.-Ib.

438.

It is impossible to love those a second time, whom we have once ceased to love.—Ib.

439.

All the passions make us commit faults, but love makes us guilty of the most ridiculous ones.—Ib.

440.

A man of sense may love like a madman, but never like a fool.-Ib.

441.

It is a sign of extraordinary merit, when those who most envy it are forced to praise it.—Ib.

442.

Some people are disgusting with great_merit; others with great faults are very pleasing.-Ib.

443.

The art of setting off moderate qualifications, steals esteem; and often gives more reputation than real merit.-Ib.

444.

Our merit procures us the esteem of men of sense, and our good fortune that of the public.—Ib.

445.

The world oftener rewards the appearance of merit, than merit itself.-Ib.

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