L'absence diminue les mediocres passions, et augmente les grandes,comme le vent eteint les bougies, et allume le feu. Absence diminishes commonplace passions, and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and kindles fire.

Men are inconsolable concerning the treachery of their friends or the deceptions of their enemies; and yet they are often very highly satisfied to be both deceived and betrayed by their own selves.

What we cut off from our other faults is very often but so much added to our pride.

The qualities we have, make us so ridiculous as those which we affect.

All men are equally proud. The only difference is that not all take the same methods of showing it.

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

We are sometimes as different from ourselves as we are from others.