It is a wearisome disease to preserve health by too strict a regimen.

The health of the soul is as precarious as that of the body; for when we seem secure from passions, we are no less in danger of their infection than we are of falling ill when we appear to be well.

The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. The envy of NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its regrets by the contempt it evinces for those who possess it, and we refuse them our homage, not being able to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of the world.

We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore.

The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.

How can we be answerable for what we shall want in the future, since we have no clear idea of what we want now?

Sincerity is a certain openness of heart. It is to be found in very few, and what we commonly look upon to be so is only a cunningsort of dissimulation, to insinuate ourselves into the confidence of others.