Vanity, shame, and above all disposition, often make men brave and women chaste.

Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we always fear those who use it too much; yet satire should be allowed when unmixed with spite, and when the person satirized can join in the satire.

There are a great many simpletons who know themselves to be so, and who make a very cunning use of their own simplicity.

The caprice of our temper is even more whimsical than that of Fortune.

The only thing constant in life is change

We often persuade ourselves to love people who are more powerful than we are, yet interest alone produces our friendship; we do not give our hearts away for the good we wish to do, but for that we expect to receive.

Were we not proud ourselves, we should not complain of the pride of others.