Youth changes its tastes by the warmth of its blood; age retains its tastes by habit.

One can find women who have never had one love affair, but it is rare indeed to find any who have had only one.

The sure mark of one born with noble qualities is being born without envy.

Considering how little the beginning or the ceasing to love is in our own power, it is foolish and unreasonable for the lover or his mistress to complain of one another's inconstancy.

Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.

What we take for virtue is often nothing but an assemblage of different actions, and of different interests, that fortune or our industry knows how to arrange.

There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune; it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things; it is a price which we imperceptibly set upon ourselves.