It would be wisest not to worry too much about the sterile periods. They ventilate the subject and instill into it the reality of daily life.

The difficulty comes from this, that Christianity (Christian orthodoxy) is exclusive and that belief in its truth excludes belief in any other truth. It does not absorb; it repulses.

Sin is whatever obscures the soul.

The truth is, I hoped the cure would dislike me. I tried to think of disagreeable things to say to him -- I could hit on nothing that wasn't charming. It's wonderful how hard I find it not to be fascinating.

It is not becoming to lay to virtue the weariness of old age.

One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight, for a very long time, of the shore.

Oh, would that my mind could let fall its dead ideas, as the tree does its withered leaves!