Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference, or sheer helplessness.

I should like one of these days to be so well known, so popular, so celebrated, so famous, that it would permit me . . . to break wind in society, and society would think it a most natural thing.

You cannot pluck love out of your heart as you would pull a tooth.

Virtue in women is perhaps a question of temperament.

If those who are the enemies of innocent amusements had the direction of the world, they would take away the spring, and youth, the former from the year, the latter from human life.

He has great tranquility of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men.

Marriage is an institution necessary to the maintenance of society but contrary to the laws of nature.