It is the natural fault of young people to think too well of mankind [...].

Almost all our misfortunes in life come from the wrong notions we have about the things that happen to us. To know men thoroughly, to judge events sanely, is, therefore, a great step towards happiness.

The main misfortune, the root of all evil to come, was loss of the confidence in the value of one's own opinion. People imagined that it was out of date of follow their own moral sense, that they must all sing in chorus, and live by other people's notions, notions that were crammed down everybody's throat.

It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men.

people sometimes mistake their own shortcomings for those of society

A man is the sum of his misfortunes. One day you'd think misfortune would get tired, but then time is your misfortune.

With man, most of his misfortunes are occasioned by man.

I have sometimes thought that I have been burdened with a pack of ten misfortunes, any one of which if borne by my neighbor would be enough to make a murderer out of him.

Les hommes qui se sont occupés du bonheur des peuples ont rendu leurs proches bien malheureux.

Many a man fails as an original thinker simply because his memory is too good.

The most serious misfortune for a busy man who is overwhelmed by his possessions is, that he believes men to be his friends when he himself is not a friend to them, and that he deems his favours to be effective in winning friends, although, in the case of certain men, the more they owe, the more they hate.

Another weakness found in altogether too many people, is the habit of measuring everything, and everyone, by their own impressions and beliefs.

We have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation.

I've neither beauty, money, nor rank, yet every foolish boy mistakes my frank interest for something warmer, and makes me miserable. It is my misfortune. Think of me what you will, but beware of me in time, for against my will I may do you harm.