We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.
There are some bad qualities which make great talents.
Penetration has an air of divination; it pleases our vanity more than any other quality of the mind.
It is not always for virtue's sake that women are virtuous.
What is called liberality is often merely the vanity of giving.
Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in very few people; what we usually see is only an artful dissimulation to win the confidence of others.