I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies. – Pietro Aretino
I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship. – Pietro Aretino
If you want to annoy your neighbors, tell the truth about them. – Pietro Aretino
Angry men are blind and foolish, for reason at such a time takes flight and, in her absence, wrath plunders all the riches of the intellect, while the judgment remains the prisoner of its own pride. – Pietro Aretino
The worthiest man to be known, and for a pattern to be presented to the world, he is the man of whom we have most certain knowledge. He hath been declared and enlightened by the most clear-seeing men that ever were; the testimonies we have of him are in faithfulness and sufficiency most admirable. – Michel de Montaigne