Despair exaggerates not only our misery but also our weakness.

We are very wrong to think that some fault or other can exclude virtue, or to consider the alliance of good and evil as a monstrosity or an enigma.

We are forced to respect the gifts of nature, which study and fortune cannot give.

No one is more liable to make mistakes than he who acts only on reflexion.

It is proof of a narrow mind when things worthy of esteem are distinguished from things worthy of love. Great minds naturally love whatever is worthy of their esteem.

Wit does not take the place of knowledge.

The usual pretext of those who make others unhappy is that they do it for their own good.