The Dupe of Hope

Hope may be a lying jade but she does, at any rate, lead us to the end of our lives down a pleasant path.

What, Me Worry?

No man is clever enough to know all the evil he does.

No Regrets

Our misdeeds are easily forgotten when they are known only to ourselves.

Faulty Mirrors

Our hearts, the egotist which love of self exalts. The mirrors are the faults our neighbors all display, mirrors that like true portraits our weaknesses disclose.

I Don't Need Your Good Advice

Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example.

Apprehension

Fearing to face again, the mirror's searching stare.

Mirror Images

Nothing To Say?

When not prompted by vanity, we say little.

Trying Too Hard

We are never so ridiculous from the habits we have as from those we affect to have.

Persuasion

An enthusiastic simpleton is more persuasive than a silver-tongued orator.

Contentment

Contenment depends not on things themselves, but on their desirability. True happiness lies in the possesion of that which pleases not others, but ourselves.

Poor Judgement

Everyone blames his memory, no one blames his judgement.

Establishing Oneself

To establish oneself in the world, one must do all one can to appear established.

Great Actions

Although men flatter themselves with their great actions, they are not so often the result of a great design as of chance.

Gratitude

Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.

Vexed

He sees himself, is vexed, mistrusts his eyes. and starts thinking himself the victim of a shadowy dream.