A man must learn to endure patiently what he cannot avoid conveniently.

The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.

It is a rare life that remains orderly even in private.

And if nobody reads me, shall I have wasted my time, when I have beguiled so many idle hours with such pleasant and profitable reflections?

If my intentions were not to be read in my eyes and voice, I should not have survived so long without quarrels and without harm, seeing the indiscreet freedom with which I say, right or wrong, whatever comes into my head.

A person is bound to lose when he talks about himself; if he belittles himself, he is believed; if he praises himself, he isn't believed.

The finest souls are those that have the most variety and suppleness.