Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves nor take away from themselves.

It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever.

When we enlarge upon the affection our friends have for us, this is very often not so much out of a sense of gratitude as from a desire to persuade people of our own great worth, that can deserve so much kindness.

Imagination does not enable us to invent as many different contradictions as there are by nature in every heart.

If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.

The violence we do to ourselves in order to remain faithful to the one we love is hardly better than an act of infidelity.

Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity.