The most ingenious men continually pretend to condemn tricking--but this is often done that they may use it more conveniently themselves, when some great occasion or interest offers itself to them.

Confidence in conversation has a greater share than wit.

Love has its name borrowed by a great number of dealings and affairs that are attributed to it--in which it has no greater part than the Doge in what is done at Venice.

Men never desire anything very eagerly which they desire only by the dictates of reason.

When love becomes labored we welcome an act of infidelity towards ourselves to free us from fidelity.

What is called liberality is often merely the vanity of giving.

Consolation for unhappiness can often be found in a certain satisfaction we get from looking unhappy.