There is no pain equal to that which two lovers can inflict on one another. This should be made clear to all who contemplate such a union. The avoidance of this pain is the beginning of wisdom, for it is strong enough to contaminate the rest of our lives.

When in doubt, choose greatness.

If one is too lazy to think, too vain to do a thing badly, too cowardly to admit it, one will never attain wisdom.

The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore.

Civilization is an active deposit which is formed by the combustion of the Present with the Past. Neither in countries without a Present nor in those without a Past is it to be discovered.

The greatest problem with women is how to contrive that they should seem our equals

In my religion, there would be no exclusive doctrine; all would be love, poetry, and doubt.