One mustn't ask apple trees for oranges, France for sun, women for love, life for happiness.

Mediocrity cherishes rules; as for me, I hate them; I feel for them and for every restriction, corporation, caste, hierarchy, level, herd, a loathing which fills my soul, and it is in this respect perhaps that I understand martyrdom.

Better to work for yourself alone. You do as you like and follow your own ideas, you admire yourself and please yourself: isn’t that the main thing? And then the public is so stupid. Besides, who reads? And what do they read? And what do they admire?

And he beholds the moon; like a rounded fragment of ice filled with motionless light.

She was as sated with him as he was tired of her. Emma had rediscovered in adultery all the banality of marriage.

Happiness is a monstrosity! Punished are those who seek it.

It is splendid to be a great writer, to put men into the frying pan of your words and make them pop like chestnuts.