When great men permit themselves to be cast down by the continuance of misfortune, they show us that they were only sustained by ambition, and not by their mind; so that PLUS a great vanity, heroes are made like other men.

To establish oneself in the world, one does all one can to seem established there already.

In all aspects of life, we take on a part and an appearance to seem to be what we wish to be--and thus the world is merely composed of actors.

Men never desire anything very eagerly which they desire only by the dictates of reason.

A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests it.

The mind cannot long play the heart's role.

Women can less easily surmount their coquetry than their passions.