We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to be.

Happy people rarely correct their faults; they consider themselves vindicated, since fortune endorses their evil ways.

Flattery is a kind of bad money, to which our vanity gives us currency.

Moderation is an ostentatious proof of our strength of character.

The duration of our passions is no more dependent on ourselves than the duration of our lives.

It is worth nothing to be young without being beautiful, nor to be beautiful without being young.

It is not enough that we should succeed, but our friends must fail as well.