To those human beings who are of any concern to me, I wish suffering, desolation, sickness, ill treatment, indignities, profound self-contempt, the torture of self-mistrust, and the wretchedness of the vanquished.

Without myth, however, every culture loses its healthy creative natural power: it is only a horizon encompassed with myth that rounds off to unity a social movement.

Is not wounded vanity the mother of all tragedies?

Weariness is the shortest path to equality and fraternity-and finally liberty is bestowed by sleep.

Sometimes we remain true to a cause simply because its opponents are unfailingly tasteless.

The sick woman especially: no one surpasses her in refinements for ruling, oppressing, tyrannising.

There are men who desire power simply for the sake of the happiness it will bring; these belong chiefly to political parties.