The most exquisite pleasure is giving pleasure to others. - Jean de La Bruyère

The great charm of conversation consists less in the display of one’s own wit and intelligence, than in the power to draw forth the resources of others; he who leaves you after a long conversation, pleased with himself and the part he has taken in the discourse, will be your warmest admirer. Men do not care to admire you, they wish you to be pleased with them; they do not seek for instruction or even amusement from your discourse, but they do wish you to be made acquainted with their talents and powers of conversation; and the true man of genius will delicately make all who come in contact with him feel the exquisite satisfaction of knowing that they have appeared to advantage.

«Сладострастие – это изъян сердца или, быть может, натуры; кокетство – порок души. Сладострастница внушает страх, кокетка – ненависть. Если оба эти свойства объединяются в одной женщине, получается характер, наигнуснейший из возможных.»

Жан де Лабрюйер «Характеры или нравы нынешнего века»

As favor and riches forsake a man, we discover in him the foolishness they concealed, and which no one perceived before.