Grief - Happiness is to feel that one's soul is good; there is no other, in truth, and this kind of happiness may exist even in sorrow, so that there are griefs perfable to every joy, and such as would be preferred by all those who have felt them.

The supreme sway of chastity over the senses makes her queenly.

Which is more misshapen,--religion without virtue, or virtue without religion?

Speech is but the incorporation of thought.

It may be said that it is with our thoughts as with our flowers. Those whose expression is simple carry their seed with them; those that are double by their richness and pomp charm the mind, but produce nothing.

Those who never retract their opinions love themselves more than they love the truth.

The lively phraseology of Montesquieu was the result of long meditation. His words, as light as wings, bear on them grave reflections.