People who feel themselves to be exiles in this world are mightily inclined to believe themselves citizens of another.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.

Do not have evil-doers for friends, do not have low people for friends: have virtuous people for friends, have for friends the best of men.

There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.

The passions grafted on wounded pride are the most inveterate; they are green and vigorous in old age.

Each religion, by the help of more or less myth, which it takes more or less seriously, proposes some method of fortifying the human soul and enabling it to make its peace with its destiny.

Intelligence is quickness in seeing things as they are.

Experience seems to most of us to lead to conclusions, but empiricism has sworn never to draw them.

Man is a gregarious animal, and much more so in his mind than in his body. He may like to go alone for a walk, but he hates to stand alone in his opinions.

The Difficult is that which can be done immediately; the Impossible that which takes a little longer.

Will people not be thrown face down into Hell only on account of the harvest of their tongue?

The delicate droop of the petals standing out in relief, is like the eyelid of a child.

We all feel the urge to condemn ourselves out of guilt, to blame others for our misfortunes and to fantasize about total disaster.

Humanitarianism is rude.

To know truly is to know by causes.

I'm not really an autobiographical writer, though I use lots of stuff from my life to make my stories seem real. But when I actually write about myself, I get very confused.

I like being a villain. Villains are more exciting.

I am not a saint or a cripple, I am not a wound; now I will see whether I am a coward.

Curiosity is the best motive for writing: curiosity about the world at large, or about oneself.

I've never not appeared in front of a live audience for any longer period than a month or two.