One hand was needed for power, the other for love: where is the orator that could aspire to grace in such a position? - Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

On a toujours assez vécu, quand on a eu le temps d’acquérir l’amour des femmes et l’estime des hommes.

Man enjoys the happiness he feels, woman the happiness she gives. This difference, so essential and yet so seldom noticed, has a marked difference on the whole of their respective behaviour. A man's pleasure is to satisfy desires, a woman's is chiefly to arouse them.

La honte que cause l’amour est comme sa douleur: on ne l’éprouve qu’une fois. On peut encore la feindre après; mais on ne la sent plus. Cependant le plaisir reste, et c’est bien quelque chose.