Satire is the disease of art.

A fool who has a flash of wit creates astonishment and scandal, like hack-horses setting out to gallop.

Secrecy is best taught by starting with ourselves.

There is no history worthy attention save that of free nations; the history of nations under the sway of despotism is no more than a collection of anecdotes.

What one knows best is ... what one has learned not from books but as a result of books, through the reflections to which they have given rise.

Women bestow on friendship only what they borrow from love.

We need to be just before we are generous, as we need shirts before ruffles.