The man that thinks he loves his mistress for her own sake is mightily mistaken.

The breeding we give young people is ordinarily but an additional self-love, by which we make them have a better opinion of themselves.

It is not always from valor or from chastity that men are brave, and women chaste.

To establish ourselves in the world, we have to do all we can to appear established. To succeed in the world, we do everything we can to appear successful.

In the misfortunes of our best friends we always find something not altogether displeasing to us.

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

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