Man makes up his mind he will preach, and he preaches.

Make me chaste and To what excesses will men not go for the sake of a religion in which they believe so little and which they practice so imperfectly!

The generality of men expend the early part of their lives in contributing to render the latter part miserable.

It is motive alone that gives real value to the actions of men, and disinterestedness puts the cap to it.

A man who knows the court is master of his gestures, of his eyes and of his face; he is profound, impenetratable; he dissimulates bad offices, smiles at his enemies, controls his irritation, disguises his passions, belies his heartm speaks and acts against his feelings.

The court is like a palace of marble; it's composed of people very hard and very polished.

There are some extraordinary fathers, who seem, during the whole course of their lives, to be giving their children reasons for being consoled at their death.