The real meaning of persona is a mask, such as actors were accustomed to wear on the ancient stage; and it is quite true that no one shows himself as he is, but wears his mask and plays his part. Indeed, the whole of our social arrangements may be likened to a perpetual comedy; and this is why a man who is worth anything finds society so insipid, while a blockhead is quite at home in it.

A writer should never be brief at the expense of being clear.

Each day is a little life.

There are, first of all, two kinds of authors: those who write for the subject's sake, and those who write for writing's sake. ... The truth is that when an author begins to write for the sake of covering paper, he is cheating the reader; because he writes under the pretext that he has something to say.

Pride works from within; it is the direct appreciation of oneself.

A major difficulty in translation is that a word in one language seldom has a precise equivalent in another one.

If I maintain my silence about my secret it is my prisoner...if I let it slip from my tongue, I am ITS prisoner.