Avarice often produces opposite results: there are an infinite number of persons who sacrifice their property to doubtful and distant expectations; others mistake great future advantages for small present interests.

It seems that nature, which has so wisely disposed our bodily organs with a view to our happiness, has also bestowed on us pride, to spare us the pain of being aware of our imperfections.

Affected simplicity is an elegant imposture.

Penetration has an air of divination; it pleases our vanity more than any other quality of the mind.

It is easy to be wise on behalf of others than to be so for ourselves.

Women know not the whole of their coquetry.

A certain harmony should be kept between actions and ideas if we want to fully develop the effects they can produce.