The woman who too easily and ardently yielded her devotion will find that its vitality, like a bright fire, soon consumes itself.
There are men who gain from their wealth only the fear of losing it.
The despotism of will in ideas is styled plan, project, character, obstinacy; its despotism in desires is called passion.
The cunning tempter, by avoiding the grossness of vice, often silences objections.
Reason is the historian, but passions are the actors.
The absolute ruler may be a Nero, but he is sometimes a Titus or Marc Aurelius; the people is often Nero, but never Marc Aurelius.