French moralist of the era of French Classical literature and author of Maximes and Memoirs
Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too.
There are heroes in evil as well as in good.
Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy they are, who already possess it.
We seldom find any person of good sense, except those who share our opinions.
What we call generosity is for the most part only the vanity of giving; and we exercise it because we are more fond of that vanity than of the thing we give.
How can we expect another to keep our secret if we have been unable to keep it ourselves?
We pardon to the extent that we love.
Neither the sun nor death can be looked at with a steady eye.
When a man must force himself to be faithful in his love, this is hardly better than unfaithfulness.
Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one side.