It is well-known, that a weak mind, rather than have such a suffering, will turn aside, and take shelter in willing credulity to its first opinion; a strong one, meeting the worst at once, will proceed straight forward, and, freeing itself from an uncertainty, will do both that, which is just towards others, and, in the end, best for its own ease.

But St. Aubert had too much good sense to prefer a charm to a virtue...

When one can hear people moving, one does not so much mind, about one’s fears.

How despicable is that humanity, which can be contented to pity, where it might assuage!

Vanity often produces unreasonable alarm.

How short a period often reverses the character of our sentiments, rendering that which yesterday we despised, today desirable.

Conquer such whims, and endeavor to strengthen your mind. No existence is more contemptible than that, which is embittered by fear.

I wish that all those, who on this night are not merry enough to speak before they think, may ever after be grave enough to think before they speak!

There is some magic in wealth, which can thus make persons pay their court to it, when it does not even benefit themselves.

She had passed the spring of youth, but her wit prolonged the triumph of its reign, and they mutually assisted the fame of each other; for those, who were charmed by her loveliness, spoke with enthusiasm of her talents; and others, who admired her playful imagination, declared, that her personal graces were unrivalled.