In later life, as in earlier, only a few persons influence the formation of our character; the multitude pass us by like a distant army. One friend, one teacher, one beloved, one club, one dining table, one work table are the means by which one's nation and the spirit of one's nation affect the individual.

Without God there is for mankind no purpose, no goal, no hope, only a wavering future, an eternal dread of every darkness.

With so many thousand joys, is it not black ingratitude to call the world a place of sorrow and torment?

It is not great, but little good-haps that make up happiness.

Joys are our wings, sorrows our spurs.

Whenever, at a party, I have been in the mood to study fools, I have always looked for a great beauty: they always gather round her like flies around a fruit stall.

Sorrows are like thunderclouds, in the distance they look black, over our heads scarcely gray.