It is only necessary to have courage, for strength without self-confidence is useless.

Marriage is the tomb of love.

You will be amused when you see that I have more than once deceived without the slightest qualm of conscience, both knaves and fools.

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

If I had married a woman intelligent enough to guide me, to rule me without my feeling that I was ruled, I should have taken good care of my money, I should have had children, and I should not be, as now I am, alone in the world and possessing nothing.

Cultivating whatever gave pleasure to my senses was always the chief business of my life; I have never found any occupation more important. Feeling that I was born for the sex opposite mine, I have always loved it and done all that I could to make myself loved by it. I have also been extravagantly fond of good food and irresistibly drawn by anything which could excite curiosity.

I have felt in my very blood, ever since I was born, a most unconquerable hatred towards the whole tribe of fools, and it arises from the fact that I feel myself a blockhead whenever I am in their company.