The art of flatterers is to take advantage of the foibles of the great, to foster their errors, and never to give advice which may annoy.

Birth is nothing without virtue, and we have no claim to share in the glory of our ancestors unless we endeavor to resemble them.

The great ambition of women is to inspire love.

The defects of human nature afford us opportunities of exercising our philosophy, the best employment of our virtues. If all men were righteous, all hearts true and frank and loyal, what use would our virtues be?

All the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill the history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill at dancing.

I prefer an interesting vice to a virtue that bores.

According to the saying of an ancient philosopher, one should eat to live, and not live to eat