The reason we do not let our friends see the very bottom of our hearts is not so much distrust of them as distrust of ourselves.

Some people resemble ballads which are only sung for a certain time.

Generally speaking, we would make a good bargain by renouncing all the good that people say of us, upon condition they would say no ill.

Men more easily renounce their interests than their tastes.

To establish oneself in the world, one does all one can to seem established there already.

It is only persons of firmness that can have real gentleness. Those who appear gentle are, in general, only a weak character, which easily changes into asperity.

The defects of the mind, like those of the face, grow worse with age.