Whoever commits to paper what he suffers becomes a melancholy author: but he becomes a serious author when he tells us what he suffered and why he now reposes in joy.

The English are the people of consummate cant.

Nobody thanks a witty man for politeness when he puts himself on a par with a society in which it would not be polite to show one's wit.

Many people, especially women, never experience boredom because they have never learned to work properly.

The bad gains respect through imitation, the good loses it especially in art.

The coward does not know what it means to be alone: an enemy is always standing behind his chair.

Oh great star! What would your happiness be if you did not have us to shine for?