I am disgusted with innovation, in whatever guise, and with reason, for I have seen very harmful effects of it.

All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.

Marriage has, for its share, usefulness, justice, honour, and constancy; a stale but more durable pleasure. Love is grounded on pleasure alone, and it is indeed more gratifying to the senses, keener and more acute; a pleasure stirred and kept alive by difficulties. There must be a sting and a smart in it. It ceases to be love if it has no shafts and no fire.

If there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love.

Love to his soul gave eyes; he knew things are not as they seem. The dream is his real life; the world around him is the dream.

Our zeal works wonders, whenever it supports our inclination toward hatred, cruelty, ambition.

After a tongue has once got the knack of lying, it is not to be imagined how impossible almost it is to reclaim it. Whence it comes to pass, that we see some men, who are otherwise very honest, so subject to this vice.