Next to sound judgment, diamonds and pearls are the rarest things in the world.

We all covet wealth, but not its perils.

To what excesses do men rush for the sake of religion, of whose truth they are so little persuaded, and to whose precepts they pay so little regard!

One seeks to make the loved one entirely happy, or, if that cannot be, entirely wretched.

Politeness does not always inspire goodness, equity, complaisance, and gratitude; it gives at least the appearance of these qualities, and makes man appear outwardly, as he should be within.

If some persons died, and others did not die, death would be a terrible affliction.

The pleasure of criticizing takes away from us the pleasure of being moved by some very fine things.