“There is no fate more distressing for an artist than to have to show himself off before fools, to see his work exposed to the criticism of the vulgar and ignorant.”

No one is safe from slander. The best way is to pay no attention to it, but live in innocence and let the world talk.

It is a long road from conception to completion.

That must be fine, for I don’t understand a word.

Grammar, which knows how to control even kings.

I prefer a pleasant vice to an annoying virtue.

I prefer an interesting vice to a virtue that bores.

The duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them.

Cover that bosom that I must not see: souls are wounded by such things.

Isn’t the greatest rule of all the rules simply to please?

Without dance, a man can do nothing.

The ancients, sir, are the ancients, and we are the people of today.

Perfect reason avoids all extremes.

What a terrible thing to be a great lord, yet a wicked man.

I want people to be sincere; a man of honor shouldn’t speak a single word that doesn’t come straight from his heart.

There’s nothing people can’t contrive to praise or condemn and find justification for doing so, according to their age and their inclinations.

You are my peace, my solace, my salvation.