I prefer the honest jargon of reality to the outright lies of books.

One kills a man, one is an assassin; one kills millions, one is a conqueror; one kills everybody, one is a god.

The books one has written in the past have two surprises in store: one couldn't write them again, and wouldn't want to.

Greatness, in order to gain recognition, must all too often consent to ape greatness.

My pessimism extends to the point of even suspecting the sincerity of other pessimists.

In order to remain true to oneself one ought to renounce one's party three times a day.

A few great minds are enough to endow humanity with monstrous power, but a few great hearts are not enough to make us worthy of using it.