The need to express one's self in writing springs from a maladjustment of life, or from an inner conflict which the adolescent (or the grown man) cannot resolve in action.

Inspiration in matters of taste will not come twice.

Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. We lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year's time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody. No, let us devote our life to worthwhile actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings.

Artificial inflation of stocks must be considered a crime as serious as counterfeiting, which it closely resembles.

The minds of different generations are as impenetrable one by the other as are the monads of Leibniz.

[...] marriage is one thing, and love is another...You need to have a solid canvas; nobody stops you to weave the arabesques.

Self-pity comes so naturally to all of us. The most solid happiness can be shaken by the compassion of a fool.