Shame on all eloquence which leaves us with a taste for itself and not for its substance.

The honor we receive from those that fear us, is not honor; those respects are paid to royalty and not to me.

We are neither obstinately nor wilfully to oppose evils, nor truckle under them for want of courage, but that we are naturally to give way to them, according to their condition and our own, we ought to grant free passage to diseases; and I find they stay less with me who let them alone. And I have lost those which are reputed the most tenacious and obstinate of their own defervescence, without any help or art, and contrary to their rules. Let us a little permit nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we.

The general order of things that takes care of fleas and moles also takes care of men, if they will have the same patience that fleas and moles have, to leave it to itself.

We imagine much more appropriately an artisan on his toilet seat or on his wife than a great president, venerable by his demeanorand his ability. It seems to us that they do not stoop from their lofty thrones even to live.

Is it reasonable that even the arts should take advantage of and profit by our natural stupidity and feebleness of mind?

When I play with my cat, who knows whether she is not amusing herself with me more than I with her.