An agreeable figure and winning manner, which inspire affection without love, are always new. Beauty loses its relish, the graces never, after the longest acquaintance, they are no less agreeable than at first.

The sordid meal of the Cynics contributed neither to their tranquillity nor to their modesty. Pride went with Diogenes into his tub; and there he had the presumption to command Alexander the haughtiest of all men.

As nice as we are in love, we forgive more faults in that than in friendship.

Violent passions are formed in solitude. In the busy world no object has time to make a deep impression.

Every man, however little, makes a figure in his own eyes.

Seldom do we talk of ourselves with success. If I condemn myself, more is believed than is expressed; if I praise myself, much less.

We part more easily with what we possess, than with our expectations of what we wish for; because expectation always goes beyond enjoyment.