A woman often thinks she regrets the lover, when she only regrets the love.

Instead of considering that the worst way to persuade or please others is to try thus strongly to please ourselves, and that to listen well and to answer well are some of the greatest charms we can have in conversation.

As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.

The greatest fault of a penetrating wit is to go beyond the mark.

No matter how brilliant an action, it should not be considered great unless it was the result of a great motive.

It is praiseworthy even to attempt a great action.

In the presence of some people we inevitably depart From ourselves: we are inaccurate, we say things we do not feel, And talk nonsense. When we get home we are conscious that we Have made fools of ourselves. Never go near these people.