In Oran, as elsewhere, for want of time and thought, people have to love one another without knowing it.

Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear.

Whoever gives nothing, has nothing. The greatest misfortune is not to be unloved, but not to love.

No cause justifies the deaths of innocent people.

Nature is a burning and frigid, transparent and limited universe in which nothing is possible but everything is given.

Something must happen; that is the reason for most human relationships. Something must happen; even servitude in love, in war, ordeath.

...he said firmly, "God can help you. All the men I’ve seen in your position turned to Him in their time of trouble." "Obviously," I replied, "they were at liberty to do so, if they felt like it." I, however, didn’t want to be helped, and I hadn’t time to work up interest for something that didn’t interest me.