I must say that he is better than the majority, and that the count is very unreasonable." Such was the judgment of the servants.

That of society was perhaps less favorable.
The Viscount de Commarin was not one of those who possess the rather questionable and at times unenviable accomplishment of pleasing every one.

He was wise enough to distrust those astonishing personages who are always praising everybody.

In looking about us, we often see men of success and reputation, who are simply dolts, without any merit except their perfect insignificance.

That stupid propriety which offends no one, that uniform politeness which shocks no one's vanity, have peculiarly the gift of pleasing and of succeeding.
One cannot meet certain persons without saying, "I know that face; I have seen it somewhere, before;" because it has no individuality, but simply resembles faces seen in a common crowd.