The passions do very often give birth to others of a nature most contrary to their own. Thus avarice sometimes brings forth prodigality, and prodigality avarice; a man's resolution is very often the effect of levity, and his boldness that of cowardice and fear.

What renders other people's vanity insufferable is that it wounds our own.

Women know not the whole of their coquetry.

Humility is the altar upon which God wishes that we should offer Him His sacrifices.

The constancy of the wise is only the talent of concealing the agitation of their hearts.

We should not judge a man's merits by his great qualities, but by the use he makes of them.

We rarely ever perceive others as being sensible, except for those who agree with us.