Cheating is a sin, but honest cunning is simply prudence. It is a virtue. To be sure, it has a likeness to roguery, but that cannot be helped. He who has not learned to practice it is a fool.

Whether happy or unhappy, life is the only treasure man possesses.

To lead a blameless life you must curb your passions , and whatever misfortune may befall you cannot be ascribed by anyone to want of good luck, or attributed to fate; these words are devoid of sense, and all fault will rightly fall on your own head.

They are the follies inherent to youth; I make sport of them, and, if you are kind, you will not yourself refuse them a good-natured smile.

The sweetest pleasures are those which are hardest to be won.

After all, a beautiful woman without a mind of her own leaves her lover with no resource after he had physically enjoyed her charms.

Those who do not love life do not deserve it.