I embrace my rival, but only to strangle him.

I know the disposition of women: when you will, they won’t; when you won’t, they set their hearts upon you of their own inclination.

Without money honor is merely a disease.

I have pushed virtue to outright brutality.

Thank the Gods! My misery exceeds all my hopes!

It is a maxim of old that among themselves all things are common to friends.

Hell, covering all with its gloomy vapors, has cast shadows on even the holiest eyes.

According as the man is, so must you humour him.

A noble heart cannot suspect in others the pettiness and malice that it has never felt.

A tragedy need not have blood and death; it’s enough that it all be filled with that majestic sadness that is the pleasure of tragedy.

It behooves a prudent person to make trial of everything before arms.

I have everything, yet have nothing; and although I possess nothing, still of nothing am I in want.

There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it with reluctance.

Do not they bring it to pass by knowing that they know nothing at all?

Is a faith without action a sincere faith?

Too much virtue can be criminal.

Love is not a fire to be shut up in a soul. Everything betrays us: voice, silence, eyes; half-covered fires burn all the brighter.

In fine, nothing is said now that has not been said before.

On the throne, one has many worries; and remorse is the one that weighs the least.

Many a time a man cannot be such as he would be, if circumstances do not admit of it.

I embrace my rival, but only to strangle him.

How good is God! How sweet his yoke!

There are no secrets that time does not reveal.

My death, taking the light from my eyes, gives back to the day the purity which they soiled.

If I could believe that this was said sincerely, I could put up with anything.

The glory of my name increases my shame. Less known by mortals, I could better escape their eyes.

I am a man, and nothing that concerns a man do I deem a matter of indifference to me.

The principal rule of art is to please and to move. All the other rules were created to achieve this first one.

The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love.

Nothing is so difficult but that it may be found out by seeking.

Justice in the extreme is often unjust.