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.

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.

Every one's true worship was that which he found in use in the place where he chanced to be.

There is, nevertheless, a certain respect and a general duty of humanity that ties us, not only to beasts that have life and sense, but even to trees and plants.

As soon as women become ours we are no longer theirs.

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

No spiritual mind remains within itself; it is always aspiring and going beyond its own strength.