Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation.

The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. The envy of NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its regrets by the contempt it evinces for those who possess it, and we refuse them our homage, not being able to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of the world.

Whatever pretended causes we may blame our afflictions upon, it is often nothing but self-interest and vanity that produce them.

Few things are needful to make the wise man happy, but nothing satisfies the fool; - and this is the reason why so many of mankind are miserable.

We confess to little faults only to persuade ourselves we have no great ones.

Few things are needed to make a wise man happy; nothing can make a fool content; that is why most men are miserable.

When love becomes labored we welcome an act of infidelity towards ourselves to free us from fidelity.