Besides, nowadays, almost all capable people are terribly afraid of being ridiculous, and are miserable because of it.

Nothing is more seductive for a man than his freedom of conscience, but nothing is a greater cause of suffering.

But do you understand, I cry to him, do you understand that if you have the guillotine in the forefront, and with such glee, it's for the sole reason that cutting heads off is the easiest thing, and having an idea is difficult!

I am a sick man...I am a spiteful man. I am a most unpleasant man.

For, after all, you do grow up, you do outgrow your ideals, which turn to dust and ashes, which are shattered into fragments; and if you have no other life, you just have to build one up out of these fragments.

Money is coined liberty, and so it is ten times dearer to a man who is deprived of freedom. If money is jingling in his pocket, he is half consoled, even though he cannot spend it.

It is not the real punishment. The only effectual one, the only deterrent and softening one, lies in the recognition of sin by conscience.