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.

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

We often brag that we are never bored with ourselves, and are so vain as never to think ourselves bad company.

It appears that nature has hid at the bottom of our hearts talents and abilities unknown to us. It is only the passions that have the power of bringing them to light, and sometimes give us views more true and more perfect than art could possibly do.

If we judge love by most of its effects, it resembles rather hatred than affection.

It is not enough that we should succeed, but our friends must fail as well.

It often happens that things come into the mind in a more finished form than could have been achieved after much study.