We must remain as close to the flowers, the grass, and the butterflies as the child is who is not yet so much taller than they are.

Every week we ought to have one hour for recieving letters, then go take a bath.

It is however a disgrace to pray! Not for all, but for you, and me, and whoever has his a conscience.

Just as bones, tissues, intestines, and blood vessels are enclosed in a skin that makes it possible to bear the sight of a human being, so the agitations and passions of the soul are wrapped up in vanity: it is the soul's skin.

What is wanted - whether this is admitted or not - is nothing less than a fundamental remolding, indeed weakening and abolition of the individual: one never tires of enumerating and indicating all that is evil and inimical, prodigal, costly, extravagant in the form individual existence has assumed hitherto, one hopes to manage more cheaply, more safely, more equitably, more uniformly if there exist only large bodies and their members.

The trodden worm curls up. This testifies to its caution. It thus reduces its chances of being trodden upon again. In the language of morality: Humility.

The charm of knowledge would be small indeed, were it not that there is so much shame to be overcome on the way to it.