Pride counterbalances all our miseries, for it either hides them, or, if it discloses them, boasts of that disclosure. Pride has such a thorough possession of us, even in the midst of our miseries and faults, that we are prepared to sacrifice life with joy, if it may but be talked of.

Seeing too much to deny and too little to be sure, I am in a state to be pitied.

Those who are accustomed to judge by feeling do not understand the process of reasoning, because they want to comprehend at a glance and are not used to seeking for first principles. Those, on the other hand, who are accustomed to reason from first principles do not understand matters of feeling at all, because they look for first principles and are unable to comprehend at a glance.

The entire ocean is affected by a single pebble.

When one does not love too much, one does not love enough.

I can approve of those only who seek in tears for happiness.

It is superstitious to put one's hopes in formalities, but arrogant to refuse to submit to them.