An untempted woman cannot boast of her chastity. - Michel de Montaigne

When a man is commonplace in discussion yet valued for what he writes that shows that his talents lie in his borrowed sources not in himself.

Not being able to govern events, I govern myself, and if they will not adapt to me, I adapt to them.

If any one should importune me to give a reason why I loved him, I feel it could no otherwise be expressed than by making answer, ‘Because it was he; because it was I.’ There is, beyond what I am able to say, I know not what inexplicable and inevitable power that brought on this union.