“Nothing is easier than self-deceit.”

A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.

There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots – suspicion.

Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.

As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not; so men are proved, by their speeches, whether they be wise or foolish.

You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man’s actions are, such must be his spirit.

Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.

The readiest and surest way to get rid of censure, is to correct ourselves.

The more able a man is, if he make ill use of his abilities, the more dangerous will he be to the commonwealth.

To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach.

The best protection for the people is not necessarily to believe everything people tell them.

What a man wishes, he will believe.

Whatever shall be to the advantage of all, may that prevail!

There is a great deal of wishful thinking in such cases it is the easiest thing of all to deceive ones self.

Every advantage in the past is judged in the light of the final issue.

Small opportunities often presage great enterprises.

One believes in what one wants to believe in.

The surest way to be deceived is to consider oneself cleverer than others.

We are so used to dissembling with others that in time we come to deceive and dissemble with ourselves.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.

And those who do good deeds are deceived, except those who are sincere; and those who are sincere are always in a state of worry.

Nothing is so easy as to deceive oneself; for what we wish, we readily believe.

Nowadays those are rewarded who make right appear wrong.

Nothing is more easy than to deceive one’s self, as our affections are subtle persuaders.