The duration of our passions is no more dependent on ourselves than the duration of our lives.

There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the world.

The health of the soul is as precarious as that of the body; for when we seem secure from passions, we are no less in danger of their infection than we are of falling ill when we appear to be well.

To achieve greatness one should live as if they will never die.

There is a kind of love, the excess of which forbids jealousy.

None deserve praise for being good who have not the spirit to be bad: goodness, for the most part, is nothing but indolence or weakness of will.

Innocence is lucky if it finds the same protection as guilt