Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand. The Mysterious Stranger

Pride is an established conviction of one's own paramount worth in some particular respect, while vanity is the desire of rousing such a conviction in others, and it is generally accompanied by the secret hope of ultimately coming to the same conviction oneself. Pride works from within; it is the direct appreciation of oneself. Vanity is the desire to arrive at this appreciation indirectly, from without. Parerga and Paralipomena

The birth of all things is weak and tender; and therefore we should have our eyes intent on beginnings. Essays

“Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.” The Prince