Life is too short to be able to love as one should.

Nuns and married women are equally unhappy, if in different ways.

We grow old more through indolence, than through age.

As you know, no one over thirty years of age is afraid of tittle-tattle. I myself find it much less difficult to strangle a man than to fear him.

It is quite as ignominious to allow oneself to be deceived as to deceive.

It would not be difficult to be a better ruler than I was: for I admit that I ruled badly; and even if I was fortunate enough to satisfy my subjects, I was not fortunate enough to satisfy myself.

We read for instruction, for correction, and for consolation.