In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.

Individual misfortunes give rise to the general good; so that the more individual misfortunes exist, the more all is fine.

All men are by nature free; you have therefore an undoubted liberty to depart whenever you please, but will have many and great difficulties to encounter in passing the frontiers.

The opinion of all lawyers, the unanimous cry of the nation, and the good of the state, are in themselves a law.

The way to become boring is to say everything.

The abuse of grace is affectation, as the abuse of the sublime is absurdity; all perfection is nearly a fault.

We must distinguish between speaking to deceive and being silent to be reserved.