Self-love makes our friends appear more or less deserving in proportion to the delight we take in them, and the measures by whichwe judge of their worth depend upon the manner of their conversing with us.

When the soul is ruffled by the remains of one passion, it is more disposed to entertain a new one than when it is entirely curedand at rest from all.

It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever.

A man's happiness or unhappiness depends as much on his temperament as on his destiny.

Generosity is the vanity of giving.

Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised.

We are more interested in making others believe we are happy than in trying to be happy ourselves.