Mozart's music is the mysterious language of a distant spiritual kingdom, whose marvelous accents echo in our inner being and arouse a higher, intensive life.

It is only in the morning that one should marry, read unfavourable reviews, make one's will, beat one's servants, and so forth.

Why should not a writer be permitted to make use of the levers of fear, terror and horror because some feeble soul here and there finds it more than it can bear? Shall there be no strong meat at table because there happen to be some guests there whose stomachs are weak, or who have spoiled their own digestions?

It is nearly always the most improbable things that really come to pass.

Let me ask you outright, gentle reader, if there have not been hours, indeed whole days and weeks of your life, during which all your usual activities were painfully repugnant, and everything you believed in and valued seemed foolish and worthless?

Human beings ought not to draw in their antennae at every ungentle touch, like supersensitive insects.

Once you are dancing with the devil, the prettiest capers won't help you.