those two wholesome defects of the French people, malice and curiosity, both of which are essential to its greatness.

One should make one's life a mosaic. Let the general design be good, the colors lively, and the materials diversified.

The arts are good and providential in that they allow the soul to imitate the movements of love, and to feel love without its being returned - which, perhaps, is the only way of feeling it permanently.

there are no nationalities in heaven.

Children never grow tired; their likes and dislikes are constant; let them laugh at something once and they laugh always; do what you will, they are sure to say, 'Do it again!

collections are amusing only in the making; afterwards they are like sporting prints without the sport. The sons of collectors inherit only the corpse of their fathers' satisfied passion.

... love always betrays its intentions.