Social intercourse, even friendship among most people, is a merely a business arrangement that lasts only so long as there is need.

- Madeleine De Souvre, Marquise De Sable

When an opinionated person starts to challenge something, his mind shuts out all that could clear up the matter. The argument irritates him, however …

- Madeleine De Souvre, Marquise De Sable

It is a very common failing, never to be pleased with our fortune nor displeased with our character.

- Madeleine De Souvre, Marquise De Sable

In knowledge of human affairs, we should never allow our minds to be enslaved by others by subjecting ourselves to their whims. We must maintain free…

- Madeleine De Souvre, Marquise De Sable

We must accustom ourselves to the follies of others and not be astonished at the foolishness that takes place in our presence.

- Madeleine De Souvre, Marquise De Sable

Sometimes we praise the way things used to be in order to blame the present, and we esteem what is no longer in order to scorn what is.

- Madeleine De Souvre, Marquise De Sable

Although most friendships that exist do not merit the name, we can nevertheless make use of them in accordance with our needs, as a kind of commercia…

- Madeleine De Souvre, Marquise De Sable

It is a singular characteristic of love that we cannot hide it where it exists, or pretend it where it does not exist.

- Madeleine De Souvre, Marquise De Sable

Pettiness of mind, ignorance and presumption are the cause of stubbornness, because stubborn people only want to believe what they themselves can ima…

- Madeleine De Souvre, Marquise De Sable