With despair, true optimism begins: the optimism of the man who expects nothing, who knows he has no rights and nothing coming to him, who rejoices in counting on himself alone and in acting alone for the good of all.

You must be afraid, my son. That is how one becomes an honest citizen.

Criticism often takes from the tree caterpillars and blossoms together.

One of the chief motives of artistic creation is certainly the need of feeling that we are essential in relationship to the world.

Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat.

Man must be invented each day

What I regretted in La Nausee was not to have put myself completely into the thing. I remained outside my hero's disease, protected by my neurosis which, through writing, gave me happiness.