La passion fait souvent un fou du plus habile homme, et rend souvent les plus sots habiles. - François de La Rochefoucauld

Thousands of people with good qualities are displeasing; thousands pleasing with far less abilities, and why? Because the first wish to appear to be what they are not, the second are what they appear. Some of the advantages or disadvantages that we have received from nature please in proportion as we know the air, the style, the manner, the sentiments that coincide with our condition and our appearance, and displease in the proportion they are removed from that point.

Jesteśmy tak przyzwyczajeni grać komedię wobec drugich, iż w końcu gramy komedię wobec samych siebie.

Le plaisir de l'amour est d'aimer; et l'on est plus heureux par la passion que l'on a que par celle que l'on donne.