Suppose his inclination brings a lover to our knees, what can he accomplish with a woman who is only tender and pretty?  With what can he employ his time if he does not find in her society something agreeable, some variety?  Love is an active sentiment, it is a consuming fire always demanding additional fuel, and if it can find only sensible objects upon which to feed, it will keep to that diet.  I mean to say, that when the mind is not occupied the senses find something to do.

There are too many gesticulations while talking, sometimes I think we shall be compelled to use sign language with a person we know to be unable to understand a more refined language.  It is not in resisting advances, nor in taking offense at too bold a caress that a woman is enabled to maintain her virtue.  When she is attacked in that fashion, even while defending herself, her senses are excited and the very agitation which impels her to resist, hastens her defeat.  But it is by distracting the attention of the man to other objects, that the woman is relieved of the necessity of resisting his advances, or taking offense at his liberties to which she herself has opened the way, for there is one thing certain, which is, that a man will never disappoint a woman who is anxious for him.

You will not find a single woman, unless you can suppose one absolutely ignorant, who is not able to gauge exactly the degree of familiarity she ought to permit.  Those who complain that their lovers do not come up to the mark do not affect me in the least.  Inquire into the reason, and you will perceive that their stupidities, their imprudences are the cause.  It was their desire to be found wanting.

Defect in culture may expose us to the same inconveniences, for with a woman without mind, and without talents what else is there to do but undertake her conquest?  When in her company, the only way to kill time is to annoy her.  There is nothing to talk about but her beauty, and of the impression she has made upon the senses, and sensual language is the only one that can be employed for that purpose.  She herself is not convinced that you love her, and she does not respond, she does not recompense you but by the assistance of the senses, and exhibits an agitation equal to yours, or else, her decency gone, she has nothing but bad humor with which to oppose you.  This is the last ditch of a woman without mind, and what a culmination!  On the contrary, what are not the advantages of an intelligent, resourceful woman?  A lively repartee, piquant raillery, a quarrel seasoned with a trifle of malice, a happy citation, a graceful recitation, are not these so many distractions for her, and the time thus employed, is it not so much gained for virtue?