France is revolutionary or she is nothing at all. The revolution of1789 is her political religion.

It is because of the servility of photography that I am fundamentally contemptuous of this chance invention which will never be an art but which plagiarizes nature by means of optics. (1848)

Love of country produces among men such examples as Cincinnatus, Alfred, Washington--pure, unselfish, symmetrical; among women, Vittoria Colonna, Madame Roland, Charlotte Corday, Jeanne Darc--romantic, devoted, marvelous.

Poetry is the morning dream of great minds.

Exquisite beauty resides rather in the female form than face, where it is also more lasting.

Civil wars leave nothing but tombs.

The more I see of the representatives of the people, the more I admire my dogs.