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

Humanity is not perfect in any fashion; no more in the case of evil than in that of good. The criminal has his virtues, just as the honest man has his weaknesses.

I am astonished at the pleasure one experiences in doing good; and I should be tempted to believe that what we call virtuous people have not so much merit as they lead us to suppose.

Don't you remember that love, like medicine, is only the art of encouraging nature?

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

I see you are already as timid as a slave: you might as well be in love.

La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid