“If it is true that one is poor on account of all the things one wants, the ambitious and the avaricious languish in extreme poverty.”

“One seeks to make the loved one entirely happy, or, if that cannot be, entirely wretched.”

“that man is good who does good to others; if he suffers on account of the good he does, he is very good; if he suffers at the hands of those to whom he has done good, then his goodness is so great that it could be enhanced only by greater sufferings; and if he should die at their hands, his virtue can go no further: it is heroic, it is perfect”

“The true spirit of conversation consists more in bringing out the cleverness of others than in showing a great deal of it yourself; he who goes away pleased with himself and his own wit is also greatly pleased with you. Most men would rather please than admire you; they seek less to be instructed, and even to be amused, than to be praised and applauded.”

“The pleasure of criticizing takes away from us the pleasure of being moved by some very fine things.”

“Une froideur ou une incivilité qui vient de ceux qui sont au-dessus de nous nous les fait haïr, mais un salut ou un sourire nous les réconcilie.”

“Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity.”