One usually dislikes a play while writing it, but afterward it grows on one. Let others judge and make decisions.

The desire to serve the common good must without fail be a requisite of the soul, a necessity for personal happiness; if it issuesnot from there, but from theoretical or other considerations, it is not at all the same thing.

Everything on earth is beautiful, everything -- except what we ourselves think and do when we forget the higher purposes of life and our own human dignity.

I think human beings must have faith or must look for faith, otherwise our life is empty, empty. To live and not to know why the cranes fly, why children are born, why there are stars in the sky. You must know why you are alive, or else everything is nonsense, just blowing in the wind.

Calculating selfishness is the annihilation of self.

I confess I seldom commune with my conscience when I write.

People are far more sincere and good-humored at speeding their parting guests than on meeting them.