In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes the world to believe that he is. Thus we may say that the whole world is made up of appearances.

In love we often doubt what we most believe.

The esteem of good men is the reward of our worth, but the reputation of the world in general is the gift of our fate.

We love everything on our own account; we even follow our own taste and inclination when we prefer our friends to ourselves; and yet it is this preference alone that constitutes true and perfect friendship.

The vices enter into the composition of the virtues, as poisons into that of medicines. Prudence collects and arranges them, and uses them beneficially against the ills of life.

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

Jealousy contains more of self-love than of love.