["I have often thought how ill-natured a maxim it was which on many occasions I have heard from people of good understanding, 'That as to what related to private conduct no one was ever the better for advice.' But upon further examination I have resolved with myself that the maxim might be admitted without any violent prejudice to mankind. For in the manner advice was generally given there was no reason I thought to wonder it should be so ill received, something there was which strangely inverted the case, and made the giver to be the only gainer. For by what I could observe in many occurrences of our lives, that which we called giving advice was properly taking an occasion to show our own wisdom at another's expense. On the other side to be instructed or to receive advice on the terms usually prescribed to us was little better than tamely to afford another the occasion of raising himself a character from our defects."--Lord Shaftesbury, Characteristics, i., 153.] 117.--The most subtle of our acts is to simulate blindness for snares that we know are set for us. We are never so easily deceived as when trying to deceive. 118.--The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception. 119.--We become so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that at last we are disguised to ourselves. ["Those who quit their proper character{,} to assume what does not belong to them, are{,} for the greater part{,} ignorant both of the character they leave{,} and of the character they assume."--Burke, {Reflections On The Revolution In France, (1790), Paragraph 19}.] {The translators' incorrectly cite Thoughts On The Cause Of The Present Discontents.} 120.--We often act treacherously more from weakness than from a fixed motive. 121.--We frequently do good to enable us with impunity to do evil. 122.--If we conquer our passions it is more from their weakness than from our strength. 123.--If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure. 124.--The most deceitful persons spend their lives in blaming deceit, so as to use it on some great occasion to promote some great interest. 125.--The daily employment of cunning marks a little mind, it generally happens that those who resort to it in one respect to protect themselves lay themselves open to attack in another. ["With that low cunning which in fools supplies, And amply, too, the place of being wise." Churchill, Rosciad, 117.] 126.--Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity. 127.--The true way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than others. 128.--Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness. 129.--It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men. 130.--Weakness is the only fault which cannot be cured.