"Whoever indulges long in monologue in the presence of others, without flattering his listeners, provokes ill-will." "Every word a man utters provokes the opposite opinion." "Argument and flattery are but poor elements out of which to form a conversation." "The pleasantest society is when the members of it have an easy and natural respect for one another." "There is nothing in which people more betray their character than in what they find to laugh at." "The ridiculous arises out of a moral contrast, in which two things are brought together before the mind in an innocent way." "The foolish man often laughs where there is nothing to laugh at. Whatever touches him, his inner nature comes to the surface." "The man of understanding finds almost everything ridiculous; the man of thought scarcely anything." "Some one found fault with an elderly man for continuing to pay attention to young ladies. 'It is the only means,' he replied, 'of keeping one's-self young, and everybody likes to do that.'" "People will allow their faults to be shown them; they will let themselves be punished for them; they will patiently endure many things because of them; they only become impatient when they have to lay them aside." "Certain defects are necessary for the existence of individuality. We should not be pleased, if old friends were to lay aside certain peculiarities." "There is a saying, 'He will die soon,' when a man acts unlike himself." "What kind of defects may we bear with and even cultivate in ourselves? Such as rather give pleasure to others than injure them." "The passions are defects or excellencies only in excess." "Our passions are true phoenixes: as the old burn out, the new straight rise up out of the ashes." "Violent passions are incurable diseases; the means which will cure them are what first make them thoroughly dangerous." "Passion is both raised and softened by confession. In nothing, perhaps, were the middle way more desirable than in knowing what to say and what not to say to those we love." CHAPTER V