Gracefulness is to the body what understanding is to the mind.

A small degree of wit, accompanied by good sense, is less tiresome in the long run than a great amount of wit without it.

A man often believes himself leader when he is led; as his mind endeavors to reach one goal, his heart insensibly drags him towards another.

We often in our misfortunes take that for constancy and patience which is only dejection of mind; we suffer without daring to holdup our heads, just as cowards let themselves be knocked on the head because they have not courage to strike back.

The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.

Even the most disinterested love is, after all, but a kind of bargain, in which self-love always proposes to be the gainer one wayor another.

Old people are fond of giving good advice; it consoles them for no longer being capable of setting a bad example.