“THE difference between you and myself,” said a friend to me, “is that you have said to all the masqueraders: ‘I know you,’ whilst I have left them the hope that they are deceiving me. That is why the world favours me more than you. It is a masked ball, the interest of which you have spoiled for others and the amusement for yourself.” * * * * * A MAN of wit is lost, if to his wit he does not join energy of character. If you have the lantern of Diogenes, you must also have his cudgel. * * * * * THERE are more fools than wise men, and even in the wise man himself there is more folly than wisdom. * * * * * THE worst wasted of all days is that during which one has not laughed. * * * * * THE best philosophical attitude to adopt towards the world is a union of the sarcasm of gaiety with the indulgence of contempt. * * * * * WE must be just before being generous, as we must possess shirts before having lace embroideries. * * * * * EDUCATION must have two foundations--morality as a support for virtue, prudence as a defence for self against the vices of others. By letting the balance incline to the side of morality, you only make dupes or martyrs; by letting it incline to the other, you make calculating egoists. The one great social principle is to be just both to yourself and to others. If you must love your neighbour as yourself, it is at least as fair to love yourself as your neighbour. * * * * * PUBLIC opinion is a jurisdiction which the honest man must never fully recognize, and which he must never ignore. * * * * * IT must be admitted that to live in the world without from time to time acting a part is impossible. What distinguishes the honest man from the knave is, that the former only does so when absolutely obliged and to escape a danger, while the latter seeks for opportunities. * * * * * A MAN who is not only honest but wise owes it to himself to add to the prudence that satisfies his conscience, the prudence that foresees and disarms calumny. * * * * * I CANNOT conceive of a wisdom that lacks distrust: according to the Scriptures the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God--I believe it is rather the fear of men. * * * * * WE must needs have the power of uniting contrarieties: love of virtue with indifference to public opinion, taste for work with indifference to glory, attention to health with indifference to life. * * * * * THERE are few vices that prevent a man from having many friends so much as his too high qualities prevent him. * * * * *