Oftener deceived by distrusting than by being overcredulous One piece of bad news seldom comes singly Only way to acquire them is to show that we do not value them Passed for the author of events of which I was only the prophet Poverty so well became him Power commonly keeps above ridicule Pretended to a great deal more wit than came to his share Queen was adored much more for her troubles than for her merit She had nothing but beauty, which cloys when it comes alone So indiscreet as to boast of his successful amours Strongest may safely promise to the weaker what he thinks fit The subdivision of parties is generally the ruin of all The wisest fool he ever saw in his life Those who carry more sail than ballast Thought he always stood in need of apologies Transitory honour is mere smoke Treated him as she did her petticoat Useful man in a faction because of his wonderful complacency Vanity to love to be esteemed the first author of things Verily believed he was really the man which he affected to be Virtue for a man to confess a fault than not to commit one We are far more moved at the hearing of old stories Weakening and changing the laws of the land Who imagine the head of a party to be their master Whose vivacity supplied the want of judgment Wisdom in affairs of moment is nothing without courage With a design to do good, he did evil Yet he gave more than he promised You must know that, with us Princes, words go for nothing THE MEMOIRS OF MADAME DE MONTESPAN THE MEMOIRS OF MADAME DE MONTESPAN, V1 [CM#10][cm10b10.txt]3847 Armed with beauty and sarcasm Conduct of the sort which cements and revives attachments Console me on the morrow for what had troubled me to-day Depicting other figures she really portrays her own In England a man is the absolute proprietor of his wife In Rome justice and religion always rank second to politics Kings only desire to be obeyed when they command Laws will only be as so many black lines on white paper Love-affair between Mademoiselle de la Valliere and the King Madame de Montespan had died of an attack of coquetry Not show it off was as if one only possessed a kennel That Which Often It is Best to Ignore Violent passion had changed to mere friendship When women rule their reign is always stormy and troublous Wife: property or of furniture, useful to his house Won for himself a great name and great wealth by words THE MEMOIRS OF MADAME DE MONTESPAN, V2 [CM#11][cm11b10.txt]3848