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.

The fondness or indifference that the philosophers expressed for life was merely a preference inspired by their self-love, and will no more bear reasoning upon than the relish of the palate or the choice of colors.

Small minds are much distressed by little things. Great minds see them all but are not upset by them.

All the passions are nothing else than different degrees of heat and cold of the blood.

Moderation is the feebleness and sloth of the soul, whereas ambition is the warmth and activity of it.

The vivacity that augments with years is not far from folly.

Nothing is more ridiculous in old people that were once good-looking, than to forget that they are not so still.