Truth is the foundation and the reason of the perfection of beauty, for of whatever stature a thing may be, it cannot be beautiful-and perfect, unless it be truly what it should be, and possess truly all that it should have.

The contempt of riches in the philosophers was a concealed desire of revenging on fortune the injustice done to their merit, by despising the good she denied them.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

It is more difficult for a man to be faithful to his mistress when he is favored than when he is ill treated by her.

True friendship destroys envy, and true love destroys coquetterie.

In the misfortunes of our best friends we always find something not altogether displeasing to us.

It is a mistake to imagine, that the violent passions only, such as ambition and love, can triumph over the rest. Idleness, languid as it is, often masters them all; she influences all our designs and actions, and insensibly consumes and destroys both passions and virtues.