Naturally we have no friends.

We have selfish lovers who spend their fortunes, riot on us, as they say, but on their own vanity.

For these people we have to be merry when they are merry, well when they want to sup, sceptics like themselves.

We are not allowed to have hearts, under penalty of being hooted down and of ruining our credit.
"We no longer belong to ourselves.

We are no longer beings, but things.
We stand first in their self-esteem, last in their esteem.