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

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

Men are often so foolish as to boast and value themselves upon their passions, even those that are most vicious. But envy is a passion so full of cowardice and shame that no one every ever had the confidence to own it.

The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.

Few things are needed to make a wise man happy; nothing can make a fool content; that is why most men are miserable.

Everyone complains of his memory, and nobody complains of his judgment.

L'absence diminue les mediocres passions, et augmente les grandes,comme le vent eteint les bougies, et allume le feu. Absence diminishes commonplace passions, and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and kindles fire.