Do not shorten the morning by getting up late, or waste it in unworthy occupations or in talk; look upon it as the quintessence of life, as to a certain extent sacred. Evening is like old age: we are languid, talkative, silly. Each day is a little life: every waking and rising a little birth, every fresh morning a little youth, every going to rest and sleep a little death.

The young should early be trained to bear being left alone; for it is a source of happiness and peace of mind.

Genius is to other gifts what the carbuncle is to the precious stones. It sends forth its own light, whereas other stones only reflect borrowed light.

Will minus intellect constitutes vulgarity.

I believe that when death closes our eyes we shall awaken to a light, of which our sunlight is but the shadow.

I constantly saw the false and the bad, and finally the absurd and the senseless, standing in universal admiration and honour.

History is the long, difficult and confused dream of Mankind.