Mediocrity is beneath a brave soul.

Modern historians are all would-be philosophers; who, instead of relating facts as they occurred, give us their version, or rather perversions of them, always colored by their political prejudices, or distorted to establish some theory . . .

In France, a woman may forget that she is neither young nor handsome; for the absence of these claims to attention does not expose her to be neglected by the male sex.

There is no knowledge for which so great a price is paid as a knowledge of the world; and no one ever became an adept in it except at the expense of a hardened or a wounded heart.

Reason dissipates the illusions of life, but does not console us for their departure.

Many minds that have withstood the most severe trials have been broken down by a succession of ignoble cares.

It is a sad thing to look at happiness only through another's eyes.