When a man's life is over, it remains true that he was one sort of man and not another. A man who understands himself under the form of eternity knows the quality that eternally belongs to him, and knows that he cannot wholly die, even if he would, for when the movement of his life is over, the truth of his life remains.

People never believe in volcanoes until the lava actually overtakes them.

Culture is on the horns of this dilemma: if profound and noble it must remain rare, if common it must become mean.

The passions grafted on wounded pride are the most inveterate; they are green and vigorous in old age.

Experience seems to most of us to lead to conclusions, but empiricism has sworn never to draw them.

To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.

People are usually more firmly convinced that their opinions are precious than that they are true.