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

The constancy of sages is nothing but the art of locking up their agitation in their hearts.

There are certain people fated to be fools; they not only commit follies by choice, but are even constrained to do so by fortune.

It is necessary, in order to know things well, to know the particulars of them; and these, being infinite, make our knowledge eversuperficial and imperfect.

It is as easy to deceive one's self without perceiving it, as it is difficult to deceive others without their finding out.

If it requires great tact to speak to the purpose, it requires no less to know when to be silent.

Every one speaks well of his own heart, but no one dares speak well of his own mind.