“The passions are the only orators which always persuade.”

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.

It is not in the power of even the most crafty dissimulation to conceal love long, where it really is, nor to counterfeit it long where it is not.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

When a man must force himself to be faithful in his love, this is hardly better than unfaithfulness.

Confidence contributes more to conversation than wit.

The reason that lovers never weary each other is because they are always talking about themselves.

There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune; it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things; it is a price which we imperceptibly set upon ourselves.

In love we often doubt what we most believe.