Curiosity creeps into the houses of the unfortunate and the needy under the name of duty or of pity.

If we make sacrifices in doing good or in doing ill, it does not alter the ultimate value of our actions; even if we stake our life in the cause, as martyrs do for the sake of our church : it is a sacrifice to our longing for power, or for the purpose of conserving our sense of power.

There are expressions and bulls-eyes of the spirit, there are epigrams, a little handful of words, in which a whole culture, a whole society is suddenly crystallized.

In the world of high finance the shilling of the idle rich man can buy more than that of the poor, industrious man.

There are the terrible ones who carry about in themselves the beast of prey, and have no choice except lusts or self-laceration. And even their lusts are self-laceration.

Spiritual strength and passion, when accompanied by bad manners, only provoke loathing.

There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy.