Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires.

There is no better proof of a man's being truly good than his desiring to be constantly under the observation of good men.

Only the contemptible fear contempt.

The intellect of the generality of women serves more to fortify their folly than their reason.

The heart is forever making the head its fool.

Nothing ought more to humiliate men who have merited great praise than the care they still take to boast of little things.

To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.