We are more often treacherous through weakness than through calculation.

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.

The reason why lovers are never bored together is that they are always talking of themselves.

The happiness and unhappiness of men depends as much on their ethics as on fortune.

One kind of happiness is to know exactly at what point to be miserable.

The person giving the advice returns the confidence placed in him with a disinterested eagerness... and he is usually guided only by his own interest or reputation.

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.