The philosopher who would fain extinguish his passions resembles the chemist who would like to let his furnace go out.

In a country where everyone strives for attention, it is better to be bankrupt than to be nothing.

Slander is the balm of malignity.

Wicked people sometimes perform good actions. I suppose they wish to see if this gives as great a feeling of pleasure as the virtuous claim for it.

It is when their age of passions is past that great men produce their masterpieces, just as it is after volcanic eruptions that the soil is most fertile.

A man should swallow a toad every morning to be sure of not meeting with anything more revolting in the day ahead.

Marriage, as practised by high society, is arranged indecency.