“The virtues and vices are all put in motion by interest.”

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.

Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.

Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too.

Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness.