It is only persons of firmness that can have real gentleness. Those who appear gentle are, in general, only a weak character, which easily changes into asperity.

Our aversion to lying is commonly a secret ambition to make what we say considerable, and have every word received with a religious respect.

There is an excess both in happiness and misery above our power of sensation.

We are so used to dissembling with others that in time we come to deceive and dissemble with ourselves.

There are two sorts of constancy in love one arises from continually discovering in the loved person new subjects for love, the other arises from our making a merit of being constant.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

Strength and weakness of mind are misnomers; they are really nothing but the good or bad health of our bodily organs.