A man, in order to establish himself in the world, does everything he can to appear established there.

The great interests of man: air and light, the joy of having a body, the voluptuousness of looking.

There are many predicaments in life that one must be a bit crazy to escape from.

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

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.

The best way to rise in society is to use all possible means of persuading people that one has already risen in society.

The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to increase them.