It is a mistake to imagine, that the violent passions only, such as ambition and love, can triumph over the rest. Idleness, languid as it is, often masters them all; she influences all our designs and actions, and insensibly consumes and destroys both passions and virtues.

Men and things have each their proper perspective; to judge rightly of some it is necessary to see them near, of others we can never judge rightly but at a distance.

Generosity is the vanity of giving.

The breeding we give young people is ordinarily but an additional self-love, by which we make them have a better opinion of themselves.

As we grow older we grow both more foolish and wiser at the same time.

People would never fall in love if they hadn't heard love talked about.

Sometimes we think we dislike flattery, but it is only the way it is done that we dislike.