When does one ever know a human being? Perhaps only after one has realized the impossibility of knowledge and renounced the desire for it and finally ceased to feel even the need of it. But then what one achieves is no longer knowledge, it is simply a kind of co-existence; and this too is one of the guises of love.

One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats, and if some of these can be inexpensive and quickly procured so much the better.

The sin of pride may be a small or a great thing in someone's life, and hurt vanity a passing pinprick, or a self-destroying or ever murderous obsession.

to be understood is not a human right. Even to understand oneself is not a human right.

There is no triumph of good, and if there were it would not be a triumph of good.

Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.

We defend ourselves by descriptions and tame the world by generalizing.