He flattered himself on being a man without any prejudices; and this pretension itself is a very great prejudice.

The law ... allows rich as well as poor to sleep under bridges.

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.

Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened.

Nature, in her indifference, makes no distinction between good and evil.

I prefer the folly of enthusiasm to the indifference of wisdom.

Of all earthly creatures, humans alone have the power to choose. One must never lose time in vainly regretting the past nor in complaining about the changes which cause us discomfort, for change is the very essence of life.