Oh, who doubts, Marquis, that it may be only by essential qualities that you can succeed in pleasing women?  It is simply a question of knowing what meaning you attach to this expression.  Do you call essential qualities, worth, firmness of character, precision of judgment, extent of learning, prudence, discretion, how can I tell the number of virtues which often embarrass you more than they make you happy?  Our minds are not in accord upon this matter.  Reserve all the qualities I have specified for the intercourse you are obliged to have with men, they are quite proper under such circumstances.  But when it comes to gallantry, you will have to change all such virtues for an equal number of charming traits; those that captivate, it is the only coin that passes current in this country; it is the only merit, and you must be on your guard against calling it spurious money.  It may be that true merit consists less in real perfection than in that which the world requires.  It is far more advantageous to possess the qualities agreeable to those whom we desire to please, than to have those we believe to be estimable.  In a word, we must imitate the morals and even the caprices of those with whom we associate, if we expect to live in peace with them.

What is the destiny of women?  What is their role on earth?  It is to please.  Now, a charming figure, personal graces, in a word, all the amiable and brilliant qualities are the only means of succeeding in that role.  Women possess them to a superlative degree, and it is in these qualities that they wish men to resemble them.  It will be vain for you to accuse them of frivolity, for they are playing the beauty role, since they are destined to make you happy.  Is it not, indeed, due to the charm of our companionship, to the gentleness of our manners, that you owe your most satisfying pleasures, your social virtues, in fact, your whole happiness?  Have some good faith in this matter.  Is it possible for the sciences of themselves, the love of glory, valor, nay, even that friendship of which you boast so much, to make you perfectly happy?  The pleasure you draw from any of them, can it be keen enough to make you feel happy?  Certainly not.  None of them have the power to relieve you from a wearisome monotony which crushes you and makes you an object of pity.

It is women who have taken upon themselves to dissipate these mortal languors by the vivacious gayety they inject into their society; by the charms they know so well how to lavish where they will prove effectual.  A reckless joy, an agreeable delirium, a delicious intoxication, are alone capable of awakening your attention, and making you understand that you are really happy, for, Marquis, there is a vast difference between merely enjoying happiness and relishing the sensation of enjoying it.  The possession of necessary things does not make a man comfortable, it is the superfluous which makes him rich, and which makes him feel that he is rich.