There's only one way for an individual to remain upright, not to fall to pieces, not to sink into the mire of self-oblivionorself-contempt. That's calmly to turn away from everything, to say, "Enough!" and, folding one's useless arms across one's empty breast, to retain the ultimate, the sole attainable virtue, the virtue of recognizing one's own insignificance.

A son is like a lopped off branch. As a falcon he comes when he wills and goes where he lists.

I walked in the meadows of green grieving for my life.

I don't see why it's impossible to express everything that's on one's mind.

It's all romanticism, nonsense, rottenness, art.

Tempered, gradual animation, the methodical restrain of sensations and energies, the equilibrium of sickness and health in each creature--this is nature's essence, its immutable law, this is what it's based on and what it adheres to.

I do not know what the heart of a bad man is like. But i do know what the heart of a good man is like. And it is terrible.