Criticism sometimes is really praise, and praise sometimes slander.

A respectable man may love madly, but not foolishly.

Customary use of artifice is the sign of a small mind, and it almost always happens that he who uses it to cover one spot uncovers himself in another.

Sincerity is a certain openness of heart. It is to be found in very few, and what we commonly look upon to be so is only a cunningsort of dissimulation, to insinuate ourselves into the confidence of others.

The extreme pleasure we take in speaking of ourselves should make us apprehensive that it gives hardly any to those who listen to us.

Those that have had great passions esteem themselves for the rest of their lives fortunate and unfortunate in being cured of them.

There are few people more convinced of their own genius than those who complain of how stupid they are.