Society is a more level surface than we imagine. Wise men or absolute fools are hard to be met with, as there are few giants or dwarfs. The heaviest charge we can bring against the general texture of society is that it is commonplace. Our fancied superiority to others is in some one thing which we think most of because we excel in it, or have paid most attention to it; whilst we overlook their superiority to us in something else which they set equal and exclusive store by.
Society is a more level ...
Quotes from the same author
Just as much as we see in others, we have in ourselves.
A proud man is satisfied with his own good opinion, and does not seek to make converts to it.
The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.
Men are in numberless instances qualified for certain things, for no other reason than because they are qualified for nothing else.
As is our confidence, so is our capacity.