The tranquility or agitation of our temper does not depend so much on the big things which happen to us in life, as on the pleasant or unpleasant arrangements of the little things which happen daily.

Considering how little the beginning or the ceasing to love is in our own power, it is foolish and unreasonable for the lover or his mistress to complain of one another's inconstancy.

Politeness of mind consists in thinking chaste and refined thoughts.

Philosophy finds it an easy matter to vanquish past and future evils, but the present are commonly too hard for it.

Whatever pretended causes we may blame our afflictions upon, it is often nothing but self-interest and vanity that produce them.

To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is to insult them without fear of consequences.

It is worth nothing to be young without being beautiful, nor to be beautiful without being young.