French moralist of the era of French Classical literature and author of Maximes and Memoirs
If we judge love by most of its effects, it resembles rather hatred than affection.
In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes the world to believe that he is. Thus we may say that the whole world is made up of appearances.
The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body; after all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind, and they are in continual danger of breaking the skin and bursting out again.
Hope, deceiving as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route.
The reason why so few people are agreeable in conversation is that each is thinking more about what he intends to say than others are saying.
There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune; it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things; it is a price which we imperceptibly set upon ourselves.
In the human heart new passions are forever being born; the overthrow of one almost always means the rise of another.
In the misfortunes of our best friends we always find something not altogether displeasing to us.
We come altogether fresh and raw into the several stages of life, and often find ourselves without experience, despite our years.
Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.