There are various sorts of curiosity; one is from interest, which makes us desire to know that which may be useful to us; and the other, from pride which comes from the wish to know what others are ignorant of.

As love increases, prudence diminishes.

Were we perfectly acquainted with the object, we should never passionately desire it.

The pleasure of love is in the loving; and there is more joy in the passion one feels than in that which one inspires.

Sometimes we think we dislike flattery, but it is only the way it is done that we dislike.

Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, delicate, which gratifies differently him who praises and him who is praised. The one takes it as the reward of merit, the other bestows it to show his impartiality and knowledge.

All our qualities, whether good or bad, are unstable and ambiguous, and almost all are at the mery of chance.