The future is a convenient place for dreams.

For a man’s life would become intolerable, if he knew what was going to happen to him. He would be made aware of future evils, and would suffer their agonies in advance, while he would get no joy of present blessings since he would know how they would end. Ignorance is the necessary condition of human happiness, and it has to be admitted that on the whole mankind observes that condition well. We are almost entirely ignorant of ourselves; absolutely of others. In ignorance, we find our bliss; in illusions, our happiness.

For every monarchy overthrown the sky becomes less brilliant, because it loses a star. A republic is ugliness set free.

We thank God for having created this world, and praise Him for having made another, quite different one, where the wrongs of this one are corrected.

In its majestic equality, the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread.

Our passions are ourselves.

It is only the poor who are forbidden to beg.