“We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore.”

Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.

We all have enough strength to endure the misfortunes of others.

Old age is a tyrant, who forbids, under pain of death, the pleasures of youth.

Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example.

When a man is in love, he doubts, very often, what he most firmly believes.

Perhaps being old is having lighted rooms inside your head, and people in them, acting. People you know, yet can’t quite name.

The man that thinks he loves his mistress for her own sake is mightily mistaken.

Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.

Neither the sun nor death can be looked at with a steady eye.

We do not despise all those who have vices, but we do despise those that have no virtue.

Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrust himself.

We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones.

Men give away nothing so liberally as their advice.

Conceit causes more conversation than wit.

Jealousy is bred in doubts. When those doubts change into certainties, then the passion either ceases or turns absolute madness.

Usually we praise only to be praised.

The barking dog that robs you of sleep, the heat of summer, the cold of winter. Forgive the ingrown toenail, the flea that bites; forgive the cranky child, wrinkles, a forgotten birthday.

It is impossible to forgive someone if you feel superior to him or her.

I chose to believe that God, a benign God, would understand our sufferings and forgive us our trespasses.

The idea of God is the sole wrong for which I cannot forgive mankind.

Dawn has power to fertilise the most matter-of-fact vision.

Forgiveness is too easy. I can forget by indifference, but not forgive. I prefer revenge.

To my disappointment I now realized that to know all is not to forgive all. It is to despise everybody.

Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast.