It's catastrophies which turn wise and strong people into philosophers.

In a husband, there is only a man; in a married woman, there is a man, a father, a mother and a woman.

What is art? Nature concentrated.

Virtue is always too much of a piece and too ignorant of those shades of feeling and of temperament that enable us to squint when we are placed in a false position.

The response man has the greatest difficulty in tolerating is pity, especially when he warrants it. Hatred is a tonic, it makes one live, it inspires vengeance, but pity kills, it makes our weakness weaker.

What makes friendship indissolute and what doubles its charms is a feeling we find lacking in love: I mean certitude.

Sensuality is the death of the soul.