We promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears.
Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones just as the wind blows out a candle and fans a fire.
We always love those who admire us and we do not always love those whom we admire.
Old men are fond of giving good advice to console themselves for being no longer in a position to give bad examples.
Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one side.
How is it that we remember the least triviality that happens to us and yet not remember how often we have recounted it to the same person?
We often forgive those who bore us but can’t forgive those whom we bore.
True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world.
Moderation is an ostentatious proof of our strength of character.
The confidence which we have in ourselves gives birth to much of that which we have in others.
He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much but he who fancies the world cannot do without him is still more mistaken.
The reason why lovers are never wary of one another is this – they are always talking of themselves.
True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary and nothing but what is necessary.
A fashionable woman is always in love – with herself.
He who lives without committing any folly is not so wise as he thinks.
He who lives without folly is not as wise as he thinks.
Before we set our hearts too much upon anything let us examine how happy they are who already possess it.
No man deserves to be praised for his goodness unless he has the strength of character to be wicked. All other goodness is generally nothing but indolence or impotence of will.
There are bad people who would be less dangerous if they were quite devoid of goodness.
The gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of receiving greater benefits.
It is the prerogative of great men only to have great defects.
We are never so happy nor so unhappy as we imagine.
We are never so happy nor so unhappy as we suppose ourselves to be.
Hope deceitful as it is serves at least to lead us to the end of life along an agreeable road.
Hypocrisy is the homage which vice pays to virtue.
Hypocrisy is the homage which vice renders to virtue.
Of all our faults the one that we excuse most easily is idleness.
Innocence finds not near so much protection as guilt.
If I advance follow me! If I retreat kill me! If I die avenge me!
Before strongly desiring anything we should look carefully into the happiness of its present owner.
We are never so happy nor so unhappy as we imagine.
If we are to judge of love by its consequences it more nearly resembles hatred than friendship.
The reason why lovers and their mistresses never tire of being together is that they are always talking of themselves.
It is easier to know mankind in general than man individually.
How is it that we remember the least triviality that happens to us and yet not remember how often we have recounted it to the same person?
Everyone complains of his lack of memory but nobody of his want of judgement.
We have all of us sufficient fortitude to bear the misfortunes of others.
If we resist our passions it is more due to their weakness than to our strength.
If we have not peace within ourselves it is in vain to seek it from outward sources.
A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.
When our vices leave us we flatter ourselves with the credit of having left them.
There are few chaste women who are not tired of their trade.
Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised.
We are oftener treacherous through weakness than through calculation.
It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves.
One can find women who have never had a love affair but it is rare indeed to find any who have had only one.
True eloquence consists of saying all that should be not all that could be said.