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

True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.

We often see malefactors, when they are led to execution, put on resolution and a contempt of death which, in truth, is nothing else but fearing to look it in the face--so that this pretended bravery may very truly be said to do the same good office to their mind that the blindfold does to their eyes.

A man's happiness or unhappiness depends as much on his temperament as on his destiny.

Kings do with men as with pieces of money; they give them what value they please, and we are obliged to receive them at their current and not at their real value.

Old people love to give good advice; it compensates them for their inability to set a bad example.

The only good copies are those which make us see the absurdity of bad originals.