The abuse of grace is affectation, as the abuse of the sublime is absurdity; all perfection is nearly a fault.
He who cannot shine by thought, seeks to bring himself into notice by a witticism.
Constant happiness is the philosopher's stone of the soul.
War is the greatest of all crimes; and yet there is no aggressor who does not color his crime with the pretext of justice.
Time, which alone makes the reputation of men, ends by making their defects respectable.
We cannot always oblige; but we can always speak obligingly.