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 more often from pride than from ignorance that we are so obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places taken, and we do not want to be the last.

The height of ability consists in a thorough knowledge of the real value of things, and of the genius of the age in which we live.

It is necessary, in order to know things well, to know the particulars of them; and these, being infinite, make our knowledge eversuperficial and imperfect.

Hope and fear are inseparable. There is no hope without fear, nor any fear without hope.

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

As love increases, prudence diminishes.