If an intelligent, educated, and healthy man begins to complain of his lot and go down-hill, there is nothing for him to do but to go on down until he reaches the bottom--there is no hope for him. Where could my salvation come from? How can I save myself? I cannot drink, because it makes my head ache. I never could write bad poetry. I cannot pray for strength and see anything lofty in the languor of my soul. Laziness is laziness and weakness weakness. I can find no other names for them. I am lost, I am lost; there is no doubt of that.

It is depressing to hear the unfortunate or dying man jest.

Man is what he believes.

A writer is not a confectioner, a cosmetic dealer, or an entertainer.

Death is terrifying, but it would be even more terrifying to find out that you are going to live forever and never die.

I am writing a play which I probably will not finish until the end of November. I am writing it with considerable pleasure, though I sin frightfully against the conventions of the stage. It is a comedy with three female parts, six male, four acts, a landscape (view of the lake), lots of talk on literature, little action and tons of love.

A fiancé is neither this nor that: he's left one shore, but not yet reached the other.