The world more often rewards the appearances of merit than merit itself.

Even the most disinterested love is, after all, but a kind of bargain, in which self-love always proposes to be the gainer one wayor another.

The only good imitations are those that poke fun at bad originals.

Repentance is not so much remorse for what we have done as the fear of the consequences.

A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.

Jealousy is the greatest of all evils, and the one that arouses the least pity in the person who causes it.

We pardon as long as we love.