Marquise de Merteuil: I've distilled every thing to one single principle: win or die.

I willingly allow that money does not guarantee happiness; but it must also be allowed that it makes happiness a great deal easier to achieve.

All publicity is good publicity.

You may conquer her love of God: you will never overcome her fear of the devil.

...it is not for the illusion of a moment to govern the choice of a lifetime.

It was there, in particular, that I confirmed the truth that love, which we cry up as the source of our pleasures, is nothing more than an excuse for them.

I can see that you're in love, but only in a very narrow sense. It's the love of someone that finds charms and qualities in a woman that she doesn't actually have, who puts her in a class apart with every one else in second place, and who stays attached to her even while he's abusing her.