What is boredom? It is when there is simultaneously too much and not enough.

So long as one believes in God, one has the right to do the Good in order to be moral.

Once you hear the details of victory, it is hard to distinguish it from a defeat.

As far as men go, it is not what they are that interests me, but what they can become.

emotion is first of all and in principle an accident

For the moment, the jazz is playing; there is no melody, just notes, a myriad tiny tremors. The notes know no rest, an inflexibleorder gives birth to them then destroys them, without ever leaving them the chance to recuperate and exist for themselves.... I would like to hole them back, but I know that, if I succeeded in stooping one, there would only remain in may hand a corrupt and languishing sound. I must accept their death; I must even want that death: I know of few more bitter or intense impressions.

One could only damage oneself through the harm one did to others. One could never get directly at oneself.