Circumstances break men's bones; it has never been shown that they break men's optimism.

The truth is that it is our attitude towards children that is right, and our attitude towards grown-up people that is wrong. Our attitude towards our equals in age consists in a servile solemnity, overlying a considerable degree of indifference or disdain. Our attitude towards children consists in a condescending indulgence, overlying an unfathomable respect.

The modern world is filled with men who hold dogmas so strongly that they do not even know they are dogmas.

Real development is not leaving things behind, as on a road, but drawing life from them, as from a root.

Lord! what a strange world in which a man cannot remain unique even by taking the trouble to go mad!

The triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.

If prosperity is regarded as the reward of virtue it will be regarded as the symptom of virtue.