At the beginning and at the end of love, the two lovers are embarrassed to find themselves alone.

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

Avoid lawsuits beyond all things; they pervert your conscience, impair your health, and dissipate your property.

Cunning is none of the best nor worst qualities; it floats between virtue and vice; there is scarce any exigence where it may not, and perhaps ought not to be supplied by prudence.

When we have run through all forms of government, without partiality to that we were born under, we are at a loss with which to side; they are all a compound of good and evil. It is therefore most reasonable and safe to value that of our own country above all others, and to submit to it.

Some young people do not sufficiently understand the advantages of natural charms, and how much they would gain by trusting to them entirely. They weaken these gifts of heaven, so rare and fragile, by affected manners and an awkward imitation. Their tones and their gait are borrowed; they study their attitudes before the glass until they have lost all trace of natural manner, and, with all their pains, they please but little.

A man has made great progress in cunning when he does not seem too clever to others.