persons cannot be sincere.

317.--'Tis a small misfortune to oblige an ungrateful man; but it is
unbearable to be obliged by a scoundrel.

318.--We may find means to cure a fool of his folly, but there are none
to set straight a cross-grained spirit.

319.--If we take the liberty to dwell on their faults we cannot
long preserve the feelings we should hold towards our friends and
benefactors.

320.--To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is but to
reproach them with impunity.

["Praise undeserved is satire in disguise," quoted by Pope from a poem
which has not survived, "The Garland," by Mr. Broadhurst. "In some cases
exaggerated or inappropriate praise becomes the most severe satire."--
Scott, Woodstock.]

321.--We are nearer loving those who hate us, than those who love us
more than we desire.

322.--Those only are despicable who fear to be despised.

323.--Our wisdom is no less at the mercy of Fortune than our goods.

324.--There is more self-love than love in jealousy.

325.--We often comfort ourselves by the weakness of evils, for which
reason has not the strength to console us.

326.--Ridicule dishonours more than dishonour itself.

["No," says a commentator, "Ridicule may do harm, but it cannot
dishonour; it is vice which confers dishonour."]

327.--We own to small faults to persuade others that we have not great
ones.

328.--Envy is more irreconcilable than hatred.

329.--We believe, sometimes, that we hate flattery --we only dislike the
method.

["{But} when I tell him he hates flatter{ers}, He says he does, being
then most flattered." Shakespeare, Julius Caesar {,Act II, Scene I,
Decius}.]

330.--We pardon in the degree that we love.

331.--It is more difficult to be faithful to a mistress when one is
happy, than when we are ill-treated by her.

[Si qua volet regnare diu contemnat amantem.--Ovid, Amores, ii. 19.]

332.--Women do not know all their powers of flirtation.

333.--Women cannot be completely severe unless they hate.

334.--Women can less easily resign flirtations than love.

335.--In love deceit almost always goes further than mistrust.

336.--There is a kind of love, the excess of which forbids jealousy.

337.--There are certain good qualities as there are senses, and those
who want them can neither perceive nor understand them.

338.--When our hatred is too bitter it places us below those whom we
hate.

339.