Gratitude, in most men, is only a strong and secret hope of greater favors.

A man convinced of his own merit will accept misfortune as an honor, for thus can he persuade others, as well as himself, that he is a worthy target for the arrows of fate.

One cannot answer for his courage when he has never been in danger.

What is called liberality is often merely the vanity of giving.

In their early passions women are in love with the lover, later they are in love with love.

No matter how much care we put into hiding our passions under the appearances of devotion and honor, they can always be seen to peer out through these covers.

Too great refinement is false delicacy, and true delicacy is solid refinement.