We ought to love temperance for itself, and in obedience to God who has commanded it and chastity; but what I am forced to by catarrhs, or owe to the stone, is neither chastity nor temperance.

We perceive no charms that are not sharpened, puffed out, and inflated by artifice. Those which glide along naturally and simply easily escape a sight so gross as ours.

The premeditation of death is the premeditation of liberty; he who has learnt to die has forgot to serve.

A good marriage ... is a sweet association in life: full of constancy, trust, and an infinite number of useful and solid services and mutual obligations.

I had rather complain of ill-fortune than be ashamed of victory.

The continuous work of our life is to build death.

Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of soul, impossible.