The human life is nothing but a perpetual illusion; there is nothing but mutual deception and flattery. No one talks about us in our presence as he would in our absence. Human relations are only based upon this mutual suspicion; and few friendships would survive if everyone knew what his friends said about him behind his back, even though he spoke sincerely and dispassionately.
Man is therefore nothing but disguise, falsehood and hypocrisy, both in himself and with regards to others. He does not want to be told the truth. He avoids telling it to others, and all these tendencies, so remote from justice and reason, are naturally rooted in his heart.
