Only the great can afford to have great defects.

Moderation in people who are contented comes from that calm that good fortune lends to their spirit.

Coquetry is the essential characteristic, and the prevalent humor of women; but they do not all practice it, because the coquetry of some is restrained by fear or by reason.

When a man must force himself to be faithful in his love, this is hardly better than unfaithfulness.

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.

We may say of agreeableness, as distinct from beauty, that it consists in a symmetry of which we know not the rules, and a secret conformity of the features to each other, as also to the air and complexion of the person.

We are never so happy, nor so unhappy, as we suppose ourselves to be.