It is a much cleverer thing to talk nonsense than to listen to it.

Society, civilized society at least, is never very ready to believe anything to the detriment of those who are both rich and fascinating. It feels instinctively that manners are of more importance than morals, and, in its opinion, the highest respectability is of much less value than the possession of a good chef.

To have friends, you know, one need only be good-natured; but when a man has no enemy left there must be something mean about him.

In the old times men carried out their rights for themselves as they lived, but nowadays every baby seems born with a social manifesto in its mouth much bigger than itself.

I can resist everything except temptation.

Ah, on what little things does happiness depend.

The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, the young know everything.