Clever people will recognize and tolerate nothing but cleverness.

Before crime is committed conscience must be corrupted, and every bad man who succeeds in reaching a high point of wickedness begins with this.

What we call little things are merely the causes of great things.

Mutual respect implies discretion and reserve even in love itself; it means preserving as much liberty as possible to those whose life we share. We must distrust our instinct of intervention, for the desire to make one's own will prevail is often disguised under the mask of solicitude.

We are always making God our accomplice, that so we may legalize our own iniquities. Every successful massacre is consecrated by a Te Deum, and the clergy have never been wanting in benedictions for any victorious enormity.

When everything is in its right place within us, we ourselves are in balance with the whole work of God.

Happiness has no limits, because God has neither bottom nor bounds, and because happiness is nothing but the conquest of God through love.