The only deep emotion I occasionally felt in these affairs was gratitude, when all was going well and I was left, not only peace, but freedom to come and go--never kinder and gayer with one woman than when I had just left another's bed, as if I extended to all others the debt I had just contracted toward one of them.

I know [my label], in any case: a double face, a charming Janus, and underneath, the house motto: "Be wary". On my business cards:"Jean-Baptiste Clamence, actor".

Don't wait for the last judgment - it takes place every day.

The most exhausting effort in my life has been to suppress my own nature in order to make it serve my biggest plans.

It's not your pictures I like; it's your painting.

Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.

One plays at being immortal and after a few weeks one doesn't even know whether or not one can hang on till the next day.