Most of our desires are born and nurtured at other people's expense.

No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.

I seek only the learning that treats of the knowledge of myself and instructs me how to die well and live well.

Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.

I never rebel so much against France as not to regard Paris with a friendly eye; she has had my heart since my childhood.... I love her tenderly, even to her warts and her spots. I am French only by this great city: the glory of France, and one of the noblest ornaments of the world.

The way of the world is to make laws, but follow custom.

In general I ask for books that make use of learning, not those that build it up.