Man... knows only when he is satisfied and when he suffers, and only his sufferings and his satisfactions instruct him concerning himself, teach him what to seek and what to avoid. For the rest, man is a confused creature; he knows not whence he comes or whither he goes, he knows little of the world, and above all, he knows little of himself.

The work of art may have a moral effect, but to demand moral purpose from the artist is to make him ruin his work.

He who does not see the whole world in his friends, does not deserve that the world should hear of him.

He who does not know foreign languages does not know anything about his own.

Nature does not suffer her veil to be taken from her, and what she does not choose to reveal to the spirit, thou wilt not wrest from her by levers and screws.

As beauteous is the world, and many a joy Floats through its wide dominion. But, alas, When we would seize the winged good, it flies.

Every step of life shows much caution is required.