The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.

Men's happiness and misery depends altogether as much upon their own humor as it does upon fortune.

The more one loves a mistress, the more one is ready to hate her.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

When the soul is ruffled by the remains of one passion, it is more disposed to entertain a new one than when it is entirely curedand at rest from all.

There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the world.

A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates vivid, agreeable, and natural fancies, places them in their best light, clothes them with all appropriate adornments, studies others' tastes, and clears away from its own thoughts all that is useless and disagreeable.