A country is strong which consists of wealthy families, every member of whom is interested in defending a common treasure; it is weak when composed of scattered individuals, to whom it matters little whether they obey seven or one, a Russian or a Corsican, so long as each keeps his own plot of land, blind in their wretched egotism, to the fact that the day is coming when this too will be torn from them.

It is as easy to dream a book as it is hard to write one.

A woman in love has full intelligence of her power; the more virtuous she is, the more effective her coquetry.

When an intelligent man reaches the point of inviting self-explanation and offers surrendering the key to his heart, he is assuredly riding a drunken horse.

Conscience is a cudgel which all men pick up in order to thwack their neighbors instead of applying it to their own shoulders.

Rich women need not fear old age; their gold can always create about them any feelings necessary to their happiness.

A great love is a credit opened in favor of a power so consuming that the moment of bankruptcy must inevitably occur.