Never speak of yourself to others; make them talk about themselves instead; therein lies the whole art of pleasing. Everybody knows it, and everyone forgets it.

A human being sheds its leaves like a tree. Sickness prunes it down; and it no longer offers the same silhouette to the eyes which loved it, to the people to whom it afforded shade and comfort.

Only a woman of the world is a woman; the rest are females.

History is a novel which did take place; a novel is history that could take place.

Never speak of yourself to others; make them talk about themselves instead; therein lies the whole art of pleasing. Everybody knows it, and everyone forgets it.

When incredulity becomes a faith, it is less rational than a religion.

Antiquity was perhaps created to provide professors with their bread and butter.