The first recipe for happiness is: avoid too lengthy meditation on the past.

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

Happiness is never there to stay [...] Happiness is merely a respite offered by inquietude.

Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles with the cold.

We owe to the Middle Ages the two worst inventions of humanity - romantic love and gunpowder.

We can talk frankly about our defects only to those who recognise our qualities.

Few are they who have never had a chance to achieve happiness- and fewer those who have taken that chance.