One does not always do the best there is. One does the best one can.

Happiness and unhappiness are in the heart and spirit of each one of us: If you feel unhappy, then place yourself above that and act so that your happiness does not get to be dependent on anything.

You philosophers are lucky men. You write on paper and paper is patient. Unfortunate Empress that I am, I write on the susceptible skins of living beings.

In politics a capable ruler must be guided by circumstances, conjectures and conjunctions.

The more a man knows, the more he forgives.

Nothing is more difficult, in my opinion, than to avoid something that fundamentally attracts you.

A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.

I sincerely want peace, not because I lack resources for war, but because I hate bloodshed.

it is better to inspire a reform than to enforce it.

Power without a nation's confidence is nothing.

I am one of the people who love the why of things.

It takes a great man to be a good listener.

No guest rooms.” I shake my head resolutely. “I want to be in a room room. A lived-in room.

I kind of imagine myself at eighty, a cat lady.

I'd never been published when I was young.

Writing for me is cutting out the fat and getting to the meaning.

I really enjoy being able to spend my time doing different charitable and philanthropic activities.

I think, in these days, especially in the States, you have to be a politician or an assassin or something, to really be a superstar.

He was a man of his times. with one virtue and a thousand crimes. (The Corsair)

Objectification is above all exteriorization, the alienation of spirit from itself.

All political spendings for purposes beyond the protection of life and property are a snare and a delusion.