She was the amoureuse of all the novels, the heroine of all the plays, the vague “she” of all the poetry books.

To be stupid, selfish, and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost.

But the disparaging of those we love always alienates us from them to some extent. We must not touch our idols; the gilt comes off in our hands.

Our ignorance of history causes us to slander our own times. The ordinary person today lives better than a king did a century ago but is ungrateful!

Caught up in life, you see it badly. You suffer from it or enjoy it too much. The artist, in my opinion, is a monstrosity, something outside of nature.

Read in order to live.

Earth has its boundaries, but human stupidity is limitless.