There are people who prefer to look their fate in the eye

What will be left of the power of example if it is proved that capital punishment has another power, and a very real one, which degrades men to the point of shame, madness, and murder?

Where would his torture be, indeed, if at every step the hope of succeeding upheld him?

In the world there is, parallel to the force of death and constraint, an enormous force of persuasion that is called culture.

What is a rebel? A man who says no.

The Poor Man whom everyone speaks of, the Poor Man whom everyone pities, one of the repulsive Poor from whom charitable souls keep their distance, he has still said nothing. Or, rather, he has spoken through the voice of Victor Hugo, Zola, Richepin. At least, they said so. And these shameful impostures fed their authors. Cruel irony, the Poor Man tormented with hunger feeds those who plead his case.

And then came human beings; humans wanted to cling but there was nothing to cling to.