... you can never be sure of what has passed between husband and wife or lover and mistress.
Whether one showed you and execution or a little finger, you would extract an equally edifying thought from both of them, and would still be content. That's the way to get on in life.
Life [had] replaced logic.
Only one thing matters, one thing; to be able to dare!
Realists do not fear the results of their study.
And, indeed, I will at this point ask an idle question on my own account: which is better — cheap happiness or exalted sufferings? Well, which is better?