Frank

Smug little bastard, isn't he? But you'd be, too, if you could come up with aphorisms like he did.

Here are a few on gratitude, by the Duc de la Rochefoucauld (pictured).

Gratitude is like commercial good faith: it keeps trade going, and we pay up, not because it is right to settle our account but so that people will be more willing to extend us credit.

Not all those who repay debts of gratitude can flatter themselves that by so doing they are being grateful.

Th deficit in the amount of gratitude we expect for kindnesses done is due to the pride of both the giver and receiver, for they fail to agree upon the value of the kindness.

And, in my opinion the best:

Over-eagerness to repay a debt is in itself a kind of ingratitude.

With that in mind, I'd like to thank all my readers.