We only confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no big ones.

Our hopes, often though they deceive us, lead us pleasantly along the path of life.

Moderation is represented as a virtue in order to restrain the ambition of great men, and to console those of a meaner condition in their lesser merit and fortune.

Some weak people are so sensible of their weakness as to be able to make a good use of it.

The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. The envy of NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its regrets by the contempt it evinces for those who possess it, and we refuse them our homage, not being able to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of the world.

Love, like fire, cannot subsist without constant impulse; it ceases to live from the moment it ceases to hope or to fear.

Jealousy is not love, but self-love.