Had the devil come to our first parents personally and unmasked, they would have more easily seen the deception.

Had the devil come to our first parents personally and unmasked, they would have more easily seen the deception.

Cunning is the art of concealing our own defects, and discovering the weaknesses of others.

Cunning is the art of concealing our own defects, and discovering the weaknesses of others.

Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright, who art as black as hell, as dark as night.

For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright, who art as black as hell, as dark as night.

You think him to be your dupe; if he feigns to be so who is the
greater dupe, he read more

You think him to be your dupe; if he feigns to be so who is the
greater dupe, he or you?
[Fr., Vous le croyez votre dupe: s'il feint de l'etre, qui est
plus dupe, de lui ou de vous?]

The great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one.

The great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don't have brains enough to be honest.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don't have brains enough to be honest.

When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving one's self, and one always ends by deceiving others. That read more

When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving one's self, and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what world calls a romance.

When people say they do not care what others think of them, for the most part they deceive themselves. Generally read more

When people say they do not care what others think of them, for the most part they deceive themselves. Generally they mean only that they will do as they choose, in the confidence that no one will know their vagaries; and at the utmost only that they are willing to act contrary to the opinion of the majorities because they are supported by the approval of their neighbors. It’s not difficult to be unconventional in the eyes of the world when your unconventionality is but the convention of your set.