Moderation is a fear of falling into that envy and contempt which those who grow giddy with their good fortune quite justly draw upon themselves. It is a vain boasting of the greatness of our mind.

Renewed friendships require more care than those that have never been broken.

There are persons whose only merit consists in saying and doing stupid things at the right time, and who ruin all if they change their manners.

Happy people rarely correct their faults; they consider themselves vindicated, since fortune endorses their evil ways.

We are nearer loving those who hate us than those who love us more than we wish.

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.

It is with true love as it is with ghosts; everyone talks about it, but few have seen it.