those who tell it, because it makes them disliked. Now
those who live with princes love their own interests more than that of the
prince whom they serve; and so they take care not to confer on him a benefit
so as to injure themselves.
This evil is no doubt greater and more common among the higher classes; but
the lower are not exempt from it, since there is always some advantage in
making men love us. Human life is thus only a perpetual illusion; men
deceive and flatter each other. No one speaks of us in our presence as he
does of us in our absence. Human society is founded on mutual deceit; few
friendships would endure if each knew what his friend said of him in his
absence, although he then spoke in sincerity and without passion.
Man is, then, only disguise, falsehood, and hypocrisy, both in himself and
in regard to others. He does not wish any one to tell him the truth; he
avoids telling it to others, and all these dispositions, so removed from
justice and reason, have a natural root in his heart.
101. I set it down as a fact that if all men knew what each said of the
other, there would not be four friends in the world. This is apparent from
the quarrels which arise from the indiscreet tales told from time to time. I
say, further, all men would be...
102. Some vices only lay hold of us by means of others, and these, like
branches, fall
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