236.—It would seem that even self-love may be the dupe of goodness and forget itself when we work for others. And yet it is but taking the shortest way to arrive at its aim, taking usury under the pretext of giving, in fact winning everybody in a subtle and delicate manner.
237.—No one should be praised for his goodness if he has not strength enough to be wicked. All other goodness is but too often an idleness or powerlessness of will.
238.—It is not so dangerous to do wrong to most men, as to do them too much good.
239.—Nothing flatters our pride so much as the confidence of the great, because we regard it as the result of our worth, without remembering that generally 'tis but vanity, or the inability to keep a secret.
240.—We may say of conformity as distinguished from beauty, that it is a symmetry which knows no rules, and a secret harmony of features both one with each other and with the colour and appearance of the person.
241.—Flirtation is at the bottom of woman's nature, although all do not practise it, some being restrained by fear, others by sense.
["By nature woman is a flirt, but her flirting changes both in the mode and object according to her opinions."— Rousseau, Emile.]
242.—We often bore others when we think we cannot possibly bore them.
243.—Few things are impossible in themselves; application to make them succeed fails us more often than the means.
244.—Sovereign ability consists in knowing the value of things.