Wisdom consists in rising superior both to madness and to common sense, and is lending oneself to the universal illusion without becoming its dupe.

It is not what he had, or even what he does which expresses the worth of a man, but what he is.

Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers.

Common sense is the measure of the possible; it is composed of experience and prevision; it is calculation applied to life.

There is only one way of not hating those who do us wrong, and that is by doing them good.

Analysis kills spontaneity. The grain once ground into flour springs and germinates no more.

Life is an apprenticeship to the constant renunciations, to the steady failure of our claims, our hopes, our powers, our liberty.