The esteem of good men is the reward of our worth, but the reputation of the world in general is the gift of our fate.

The reason why lovers are never bored together is that they are always talking of themselves.

There are some good marriages, but practically no delightful ones.

It is easier to fall in love when you are out of it than to get out of it when you are in.

There are various sorts of curiosity; one is from interest, which makes us desire to know that which may be useful to us; and the other, from pride which comes from the wish to know what others are ignorant of.

Most men, like plants, possess hidden qualities which chance discovers.

We easily forgive our friends those faults that do no affect us ourselves.