Thus also every keen pleasure is an error and an illusion, for no attained wish can give lasting satisfaction.

Something of great importance now past is inferior to something of little importance now present, in that the latter is a reality, and related to the former as something to nothing.

[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.

Any foolish boy can stamp on a beetle, but all the professors in the world cannot make a beetle.

In the sphere of thought, absurdity and perversity remain the masters of the world, and their dominion is suspended only for brief periods.

The weakness of their reasoning faculty also explains why women show more sympathy for the unfortunate than men;... and why, on the contrary, they are inferior to men as regards justice, and less honourable and conscientious.

Rudeness is better than any argument; it totally eclipses intellect.