"It is a great act of cleverness..." - Quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld

“We torment ourselves rather to make it appear that we are happy than to become so.”

“Humility is the worst form of conceit.”

“It is difficult to like those whom we do not esteem; but it is no less so to like those whom we esteem more than ourselves.”

“Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.”

“Most people think that intelligence is about brain, where really it's about focus. Genius is just attention to a subject until it becomes specific, specific, specific.”

“Our intelligence cannot wall itself up alive, like a pupa in a chrysalis. It must at any cost keep on speaking terms with the universe that engendered it.”

“Self-love is more cunning than the most cunning man in the world.”

“Cold & cunning come from the north: But cunning sans wisdom is nothing worth.”

“Undoubtedly ... there is a meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. What bears affinity to cunning is despicable.”