Our probity is not less at the mercy of fortune than our property.

What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given.

The violence done us by others is often less painful than that which we do to ourselves.

Those only are despicable who fear to be despised.

The pleasure of love is in loving; we are happier in the passion we feel than in what we inspire.

We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.

Passion makes idiots of the cleverest men, and makes the biggest idiots clever.