The health of the soul is something we can be no more sure of than that of the body; and though a man may seem far from the passions, yet he is in as much danger of falling into them as one in a perfect state of health of having a fit of sickness.

Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.

How can we expect another to keep our secret if we have been unable to keep it ourselves?

The tranquility or agitation of our temper does not depend so much on the big things which happen to us in life, as on the pleasant or unpleasant arrangements of the little things which happen daily.

There are few good women who do not tire of their role.

Penetration has an air of divination; it pleases our vanity more than any other quality of the mind.

The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.