Virtue must be valuable, if men and women of all degrees pretend to have it.

Virtue must be valuable, if men and women of all degrees pretend to have it.

Of all the benefits which virtue confers on us, the contempt of death is one of the greatest.

Of all the benefits which virtue confers on us, the contempt of death is one of the greatest.

If there's a power above us, (and that there is all nature cries
aloud
Through all her works) read more

If there's a power above us, (and that there is all nature cries
aloud
Through all her works) he must delight in virtue.

It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.

It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.

The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast.

The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast.

The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons

The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons

The willing contemplation of vice is vice.

The willing contemplation of vice is vice.

If we had to seek virtue outside of ourselves, that would assuredly be difficult; but as it is within us, read more

If we had to seek virtue outside of ourselves, that would assuredly be difficult; but as it is within us, it suffices to avoid bad thoughts and to keep our souls turned toward the Lord.

Ah, Eugénie, have done with virtues! Among the sacrifices that can be made to those counterfeit divinities, is there one read more

Ah, Eugénie, have done with virtues! Among the sacrifices that can be made to those counterfeit divinities, is there one worth an instant of the pleasures one tastes in outraging them?