Virtue is not a thing you can have by halves; it is or it is not.

Squeeze marriage as much as you like, you will never extract anything from it but fun for bachelors and boredom for husbands.

Woman is a most charming creature, who changes her heart as easily as she does her gloves.

The duration of passion is proportionate with the original resistance of the woman.

Loyalty in time of need is possibly one of the noblest of victories a courtier can win over himself.

Events are never absolute, their outcome depends entirely upon the individual. Misfortune is a stepping stone for a genius, a piscina for a Christian, a treasure for a man of parts, and an abyss for a weakling.

Women, perhaps even require a little hypocrisy.