When a natural discourse paints a passion or an effect, one feels within oneself the truth of what one reads, which was there before, although one did not know it. Hence one is inclined to love him who makes us feel it, for he has not shown us his own riches, but ours. ...such community of intellect that we have with him necessarily inclines the heart to love.

Anyone who found the secret of rejoicing when things go well without being annoyed when they go badly would have found the point.

God only pours out his light into the mind after having subdued the rebellion of the will by an altogether heavenly gentleness which charms and wins it.

We are so presumptuous that we wish to be known to all the world, even to those who come after us; and we are so vain that the esteem of five or six persons immediately around us is enough to amuse and satisfy us.

Men often take their imagination for their heart; and they believe they are converted as soon as they think of being converted.

Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth.

I maintain that, if everyone knew what others said about him, there would not be four friends in the world.