Old people like to give good advice, as solace for no longer being able to provide bad examples.

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  We all have strength enough to endure the misfortunes of others.

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  The desire to appear clever often prevents one from becoming so.

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  We should desire few things ardently if we knew perfectly what we desire.

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  Passion often makes a fool of the cleverest man, and often makes the most foolish clever.

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  He who thinks he can find in himself the means of doing without others is much mistaken; but he who thinks others cannot do without him is still more mistaken.

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  We should often be ashamed of our finest actions if the world saw all the motives that produce them.

All aphorisms