Have you no hope at all? And do you really live with the thought that when you die, you die, and nothing remains?" "Yes," I said.

When a war breaks out, people say: "It's too stupid; it can't last long." But though a war may well be "too stupid," that doesn't prevent its lasting. Stupidity has a knack of getting its way; as we should see if we were not always so much wrapped up in ourselves.

This divorce between man and his life, the actor and his setting, is properly the feeling of absurdity.

A symbol always transcends the one who makes use of it and makes him say in reality more than he is aware of expressing.

The real passion of the twentieth century is servitude.

From Paul to Stalin, the popes who have chosen Caesar have prepared the way for Caesars who quickly learn to despise popes.

But when a man has had only four hours' sleep he isn't sentimental. He sees things as they are: that is to say, he sees them in the garish light of justice; hideous, witless justice.