The crimes of extreme civilization are probably worse than those of extreme barbarism, because of their refinement, the corruption they presuppose, and their superior degree of intellectuality.

Yet, whether to the glory or to the shame of human nature, in what we call pleasure (with an excess of scorn, perhaps) there are abysses as deep as those of love.

The crimes of extreme civilization are probably worse than those of extreme barbarism, because of their refinement, the corruption they presuppose, and their superior degree of intellectuality.

Happy men are grave. They carry their happiness cautiously, as they would a glass filled to the brim which the slightest movement could cause to spill over, or break.

They had...finished their lives before their death - which is not always the end of life and often comes long before the end.

Passions are less mischievous than boredom, for passions tend to diminish and boredom increase.

I did not want to be taken for a fool-the typical French reason for performing the worst of deeds without remorse.