His own faith, however, was not lacking in virtues since it consisted in acknowledging obscurely that he would be granted much without ever deserving anything.

A guilty conscience needs to confess. A work of art is a confession.

There is no shame in preferring happiness.

When love ceases to be tragic it is something else and the individual again throws himself in search of tragedy.

Life can be magnificent and overwhelming -- that is the whole tragedy. Without beauty, love, or danger it would almost be easy to live.

Men are never really willing to die except for the sake of freedom: therefore they do not believe in dying completely.

Absolute justice is achieved by the suppression of all contradiction, therefore it destroys freedom.