The most useful and honorable science and occupation for a woman is the science of housekeeping. I know some that are miserly, very few that are good managers.

We have power over nothing except our will.

Learned we may be with another man's learning: we can only be wise with wisdom of our own.

If faces were not alike, we could not distinguish men from beasts; if they were not different, we could not tell one man from another.

He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.

God is favorable to those whom he makes to die by degrees; 'tis the only benefit of old age. The last death will be so much the less painful: it will kill but a quarter of a man or but half a one at most.

To philosophize is nothing else than to prepare oneself for death.