The more cultured a man, the less fortunate he is.

A man wants nothing so badly as a gooseberry farm.

Faith is an aptitude of the spirit. It is, in fact, a talent: you must be born with it.

Who keeps the tavern and serves up the drinks? The peasant. Who squanders and drinks up money belonging to the peasant commune, the school, the church? The peasant. Who would steal from his neighbor, commit arson, and falsely denounce another for a bottle of vodka? The peasant.

The wealthy are always surrounded by hangers-on; science and art are as well.

My own experience is that once a story has been written, one has to cross out the beginning and the end. It is there that we authors do most of our lying.

My mother and father are the only people on the whole planet for whom I will never begrudge a thing. Should I achieve great things, it is the work of their hands; they are splendid people and their absolute love of their children places them above the highest praise. It cloaks all of their shortcomings, shortcomings that may have resulted from a difficult life.