A man is ridiculous less through the characteristics he has than through those he affects to have.

All women are flirts, but some are restrained by shyness, and others by sense.

We are easily comforted for the misfortunes of our friends, when those misfortunes give us an occasion of expressing our affection and solicitude.

We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.

It is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is to listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that that will ever give ground or regret.

If one acts rightly and honestly, it is difficult to decide whether it is the effect of integrity or skill.

When we exaggerate our friends' tenderness towards us, it is often less from gratitude than from a desire to exhibit our own virtue.