Colette (1873 – 1954) was a gifted and prolific French author who, er, made history. She’s best known in North America for having written Gigi, which was made into a movie starring Maurice Chevalier and Leslie Caron. Some of her other great books are Chéri, The Last of Chéri, and The Vagabond. Here are some of her bons mots:

Be happy. It’s one way of being wise.

Give me a dozen such heartbreaks, if that would help me lose a couple of pounds.

I love my past. I love my present. I am not ashamed of what I have had, and I am not sad because I no longer have it.

If I can’t have too many truffles, I’ll do without truffles.

Look for a long time at what pleases you, and a longer time at what pains you.

The faults of husbands are often caused by the excess virtues of their wives.

What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.

You must not pity me because my sixtieth year finds me still astonished. To be astonished is one of the surest ways of not growing old too quickly.

You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.