But even friendship like our heroes' Exist no more; for we've outgrown All sentiments and deem men zeroes-- Except of course ourselves alone. We all take on Napoleon's features, And millions of our fellow creatures Are nothing more to us than tools... Since feelings are for freaks and fools. Eugene, of course, had keen perceptions And on the whole despised mankind, Yet wasn't, like so many, blind; And since each rule permits exceptions, He did respect a noble few, And, cold himself, gave warmth its due.

I do not like Moscow life. You live here not as you want to live, but as old women want you to.

If you but knew the flames that burn in me which I attempt to beat down with my reason.

I’ve lived to bury my desires, And see my dreams corrode with rust; Now all that’s left are fruitless fires That burn my empty heart to dust.

Inspiration is needed in geometry, just as much as in poetry.

Fearing no insult, asking for no crown, receive with indifference both flattery and slander, and do not argue with a fool.

Moral maxims are surprisingly useful on occasions when we can invent little else to justify our actions.