All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning.

Travel, which is like a greater and a graver science, brings us back to ourselves.

The evil that is in the world always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence, if they lack understanding.

…there's no question of heroism in all this. It's a matter of common decency. That's an idea which may make some people smile, but the only means of fighting a plague is - common decency.

The real 19th century prophet was Dostoevsky, not Karl Marx.

As for those whose role it is to love us - I mean, relatives and in-laws (what a word)- It's a different tune. They find the right word, but it's usually the one that wounds.

Ironic philosophies produce passionate works.