We are not fond of praising, and never praise any one except from interested motives. Praise is a clever, concealed, and delicate flattery, which gratifies in different ways the giver and the receiver. The one takes it as a recompense of his merit, and the other bestows it to display his equity and discernment.

What we take for virtue is often nothing but an assemblage of different actions, and of different interests, that fortune or our industry knows how to arrange.

Absence cools moderate passions, and inflames violent ones; just as the wind blows out candles, but kindles fires.

There are various sorts of curiosity; one is from interest, which makes us desire to know that which may be useful to us; and the other, from pride which comes from the wish to know what others are ignorant of.

We forgive just so long as we love.

Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation.

Most people know no other way of judging men's worth but by the vogue they are in, or the fortunes they have met with.