Men are often so foolish as to boast and value themselves upon their passions, even those that are most vicious. But envy is a passion so full of cowardice and shame that no one every ever had the confidence to own it.

Nothing is rarer than real goodness.

Love can no more continue without a constant motion than fire can; and when once you take hope and fear away, you take from it its very life and being.

Raillery is more insupportable than wrong; because we have a right to resent injuries, but are ridiculous in being angry at a jest.

There are people who would never have been in love, had they never heard love spoken of.

It is as common for tastes to change as it is uncommon for traits of character.

If one acts rightly and honestly, it is difficult to decide whether it is the effect of integrity or skill.