These are facts the heart can feel; yet they call for careful study before they become clear to the intellect.

When I was young, I expected from people more than they could give: neverending friendship and constant excitement. Now I expect less than they can actually can give: to stay close silently. And their feelings, friendship, noble deeds always seem like a miracle to me: a true grace.

The most exhausting effort in my life has been to suppress my own nature in order to make it serve my biggest plans.

In that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself--like a brother, really--I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again.

Ah! my friend, for whomever is alone, without a god and without a master, the weight of time is terrible. One must then choose a master, God being out of style.

Yes, I'm happy, in human terms.

What I believe to be true I must therefore preserve. What seems to me so obvious, even against me, I must support.