I know no great men but those who have rendered great services to humanity.
Honor has ever achieved greater things than interest.
Occupation and work are the only resources against misfortune.
My maxim is to fulfil all my duties to-day, because I am not sure of living to-morrow.
Most men die before having lived.
It is necessary to combat nature and fortune till the last moment, and to never despair till one is dead.
Work without disputing; it is the only way to render life supportable.
Passions are the winds that swell the sails of the ship. It is true, they sometimes sink her, but without them she could not sail at all. The bile makes us sick and choleric; but without the bile we could not live. Everything in this world is dangerous, and yet everything in it is necessary.
We should introduce into our existence all imaginable modes, and open every door of the minds to all kinds of knowledge, and all sorts of feelings. So long as it does not all go in pell-mell, there is room enough for all.
It is the part of a man like you [Vauvenargues] to have preferences, but no exclusions.
The unwise value every word in an author of repute.
Opinion governs the world, and philosophers in the long run govern opinion.
We enjoin mankind to conquer their passions. Make the experiment of only depriving a man, in the habit of taking it, of his pinch of snuff.
Do we not nearly all resemble the aged General of ninety years, who, seeing some young fellows larking with the girls, said to them angrily: “Gentlemen, is that the example which I give you?”
Passions are diseases. To cure a man of a criminal intention, we should give him not counsel, but a dose of physic.
Women are like windmills, fixed while they revolve.
I fear lest marriage may not rather be one of the seven deadly sins than one of the seven sacraments.
Divorce is probably of about the same date as marriage.
I believe, however, that marriage is several weeks the elder.
War is an epitome of all wickedness.
The race of preachers inveigh against little vices, and pass over great ones in silence. They never sermonise against war.
What strange rage possesses some people to insist on our all being miserable? They are like a quack, who would fain have us believe we are ill, in order to sell us his pills. Keep thy drugs, my friend, and leave me my health.
Can one change their character? Yes, if one changes their body.
Men are fools, but ecclesiastics are their leaders.
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