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Nothing is easier than self-deceit.

Demosthenes

He who confers a favor should at once forget it, if he is not to show a sordid ungenerous spirit. To remind a man of a kindness conferred and to talk of it, is little different from reproach.
DEMOSTHENES

Different Favor Forget Himself Reminder Talk
A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Easy General Man True
Nothing is so easy as to deceive oneself; for what we wish, we readily believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Deceive Easy One Liner
Small opportunities often presage great enterprises.
DEMOSTHENES

Greatness Opportunity Small
The man who is in the highest state of prosperity, and who thinks his fortune is most secure, knows not if it will remain unchanged till the evening.
DEMOSTHENES

Change Fortune High Man Prosperity State
Nothing is so easy as to deceive one’s self; for what we wish, that we readily believe; but such expectations are often inconsistent with the real state of things.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Consistency Easy Expectation State
Great and unexpected successes are often the cause of foolish rushing into acts of extravagance.
DEMOSTHENES

Act Fools Greatness Rush Success
To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach.
DEMOSTHENES

Goodness Reminder Reproach
Every advantage in the past is judged in the light of the final issue.
DEMOSTHENES

Issues Judgement Light Past
The man who has received a benefit ought always to remember it, but he who has granted it ought to forget the fact at once.
DEMOSTHENES

Benefit Forget Man Remember
The readiest and surest way to get rid of censure, is to correct ourselves.
DEMOSTHENES

Correct Ourselves Ready Way
Good fortune is the greatest of blessings, but good counsel comes next, and the lack of it destroys the other also.
DEMOSTHENES

Blessing Destroy Fortune Goodness
All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action.
DEMOSTHENES

Accompany Action Empty Speech
Nothing is more easy than to deceive one’s self, as our affections are subtle persuaders.
DEMOSTHENES

Affection Deceive Easy Subtle
Do you remember that in classical times when Cicero had finished speaking, the people said, “How well he spoke” but when Demosthenes had finished speaking, they said, “Let us march.
DEMOSTHENES

Ourselves People Talk Time
Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.
DEMOSTHENES

Freedom Safety State
What we have in us of the image of God is the love of truth and justice.
DEMOSTHENES

God Image Justice Love Truth
The more able a man is, if he make ill use of his abilities, the more dangerous will he be to the commonwealth.
DEMOSTHENES

Ability Common Dangerous Man
It is the natural disposition of all men to listen with pleasure to abuse and slander of their neighbour, and to hear with impatience those who utter praises of themselves.
DEMOSTHENES

Abuse Impatience Listening Man Natural Pleasure Praise
Whatever shall be to the advantage of all, may that prevail!
DEMOSTHENES

Advantage Existence Prevail
Excessive dealings with tyrants are not good for the security of free states.
DEMOSTHENES

Deal Freedom Goodness State
It is impossible for men engaged in low and groveling pursuits to have noble and generous sentiments. A man’s thought must always follow his employment.
DEMOSTHENES

Employment Engagement Follow Impossible Man Thinking
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.
DEMOSTHENES

Crack Fools Known Sound Wisdom
What we wish, that we readily believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Willing
What a man wishes, he will believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Himself Man
The best protection for the people is not necessarily to believe everything people tell them.
DEMOSTHENES

Necessary People Protection Talk
Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master
DEMOSTHENES

Anxiety Avoid Beware Master War Yourself

Nothing is easier than self-deceit.

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Nothing is easier than self-deceit.

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