I am strong against everything, except against the death of those I love. He who dies gains; he who sees others die loses.

When you compare the sorrows of real life to the pleasures of the imaginary one, you will never want to live again, only to dream forever.

God is merciful to all, as he has been to you; he is first a father, then a judge.

In politics, my dear fellow, you know, as well as I do, there are no men, but ideas — no feelings, but interests; in politics we do not kill a man, we only remove an obstacle, that is all.

Happiness is egotistical.

......When one loves, one is only too ready to believe one's love returned.

What would you not have accomplished if you had been free?" "Possibly nothing at all; the overflow of my brain would probably, in a state of freedom, have evaporated in a thousand follies; misfortune is needed to bring to light the treasures of the human intellect. Compression is needed to explode gunpowder. Captivity has brought my mental faculties to a focus; and you are well aware that from the collision of clouds electricity is produced — from electricity, lightning, from lightning, illumination.