Jealousy is bred in doubts. When those doubts change into certainties, then the passion either ceases or turns absolute madness.

What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given.

We are more interested in making others believe we are happy than in trying to be happy ourselves.

If one judges love according to the greatest part of the effects it produces, it would appear to resemble rather hatred than kindness.

We are never either so fortunate or so misfortunate as we imagine.

Too great refinement is false delicacy, and true delicacy is solid refinement.

A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.