French moralist of the era of French Classical literature and author of Maximes and Memoirs
Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance.
He is not to pass for a man of reason who stumbles upon reason by chance but he who knows it and can judge it and has a true taste for it.
Jealousy is bred in doubts. When those doubts change into certainties, then the passion either ceases or turns absolute madness.
Heat of blood makes young people change their inclinations often, and habit makes old ones keep to theirs a great while.
Taste may change, but inclination never.
Jealousy lives upon doubts. It becomes madness or ceases entirely as soon as we pass from doubt to certainty.
What makes the pain we feel from shame and jealousy so cutting is that vanity can give us no assistance in bearing them.
Perfect Valor is to do, without a witness, all that we could do before the whole world.
If we resist our passions, it is more due to their weakness than our strength.
We all have enough strength to endure the misfortunes of others.