In infants, levity is a prettiness; in men a shameful defect; but in old age, a monstrous folly.

Small minds are much distressed by little things. Great minds see them all but are not upset by them.

Moral severity in women is only a dress or paint which they use to set off their beauty.

It is difficult to define love; all we can say is, that in the soul it is a desire to rule, in the mind it is a sympathy, and in the body it is a hidden and delicate wish to possess what we love-Plus many mysteries.

Humility is often only feigned submission which people use to render others submissive. It is a subterfuge of pride which lowers itself in order to rise.

We acknowledge that we should not talk of our wives; but we seem not to know that we should talk still less of ourselves.

To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is to insult them without fear of consequences.