Montesquieu

“ There are other women as skilful, who, repairing by the force of their art all the ravages of time, know how to restore to a face beauty enough to strike one blind, and even to summon a woman from the very end of life’s journey back to its tender youthful opening. ”

“ Every one who goes from this city, leaves it a warier man than when he entered: by dint of throwing away his means on others, he learns how to keep it to himself – the only benefit a stranger carries away from this sorceress of a city. ”

“ All these people live, or seek a livelihood, in this great city, the mother of invention.
The incomes of citizens cannot be farmed: they consist only in skill and industry: each has his own, and makes the best of it. ”