I admit that I myself am far from having a complete command of every topic I touch on, but my knowledge of my subject is always greater than the interest or the understanding of my auditors. You see, there is one very good thing about mankind; the mediocre masses make very few demands of the mediocrities of a higher order, submitting stupidly and cheerfully to their guidance

I think, then, that man, after having satisfied his first longing for facts, wanted something fuller - some grouping, some adaptation to his capacity and experience, of the links of this vast chain of events which his sight could not take in.

An army is a nation within a nation, it is one of the vices of courage.

What is the use of theorizing as to wherein lies the charm that moves us?

I love the majesty of human suffering.

History is a novel for which the people is the author.

Of what use were the arts if they were only the reproduction and the imitation of life?