Too great refinement is false delicacy, and true delicacy is solid refinement.

What we take for virtue is often but an assemblage of various ambitions and activities that chance, or our own astuteness, have arranged in a certain manner; and it is not always out of courage or purity that men are brave, and women chaste.

Jealousy contains more of self-love than of love.

It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend.

It is as easy to unknowingly deceive yourself as it is to deceive others.

Men would not live in society long if they were not each others dupes.

Heat of blood makes young people change their inclinations often, and habit makes old ones keep to theirs a great while.