That which makes us believe so easily that others have defects is that we all so easily believe what we wish. - François de La Rochefoucauld

But this thick darkness that hides it from itself does not prevent its seeing with perfect clarity things outside itself, just as our eyes can perceive everything else and are only blind when it comes to seeing themselves.

Rien ne doit tant diminuer la satisfaction que nous avons de nous-mêmes, que de voir que nous désapprouvons dans un temps ce que nous approuvions dans un autre.

Very clever men pretend all their lives to condemn trickery so that, at a crucial moment and for a large stake, they may indulge in it.