French moralist of the era of French Classical literature and author of Maximes and Memoirs
Why is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how often we have told it to the same person?
On neither the sun, nor death, can a man look fixedly.
The passions are the only orators which always persuade.
We do not praise others, ordinarily, but in order to be praised ourselves.
If we have not peace within ourselves, it is in vain to seek it from outward sources.
Pride does not wish to owe and vanity does not wish to pay.
Usually we praise only to be praised.
We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to be.
The name and pretense of virtue is as serviceable to self-interest as are real vices.
There are a great many men valued in society who have nothing to recommend them but serviceable vices.