“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.”

He who follows his lessons tastes a profound peace, and looks upon everybody as a bunch of manure.

There are pretenders to piety as well as to courage.

Virtue is the first title of nobility.

Hypocrisy is a fashionable vice, and all fashionable vices pass for virtue.

Perfect good sense shuns all extremity, content to couple wisdom with sobriety.

They would have everybody be as blind as themselves: to them, to be clear-sighted is libertinism.

It’s an odd job, making decent people laugh.

Oh, I may be devout, but I am human all the same.

Words and deeds are far from being one. Much that is talked about is left undone.

Outside of Paris, there is no hope for the cultured.

Of all human foibles love of living is the most powerful.

He must have killed a lot of men to have made so much money.

How strange it is to see with how much passion People see things only in their own fashion!

If you make yourself understood, you’re always speaking well.

Although I am a pious man, I am not the less a man.

Perfect reason flees all extremity, and leads one to be wise with sobriety.