Cette manie des mères de ce siècle, d'être constamment à la chasse au mari. - Stendhal

Mathilde made an effort to use the more intimate form; she was evidently more attentive to this unusual way of speaking than to what she was saying. This use of the singular form, stripped of the tone of affection, ceased, after a moment, to afford Julien any pleasure, he was astonished at the absence of happiness; finally, in order to feel it, he had recourse to his reason. He saw himself highly esteemed by this girl who was so proud, and never bestowed unrestricted praise; by this line of reasoning he arrived at a gratification of his self-esteem.

Prestige! Sir, is it nothing? To be revered by fools, gaped at by children, envied by the rich and scorned by the wise.

Dupa ce-l invatase sa judece si sa nu se lase amagit de vorbe goale, uitase sa-i spuna ca, pentru un om de rand, obiceiul acesta e o crima; caci orice judecata sanatoasa jigneste.