There are but two roads that lead to an important goal and to the doing of great things: strength and perseverance. Strength is the lot of but a few privileged men; but austere perseverance, harsh and continuous, may be employed by the smallest of us and rarely fails of its purpose, for its silent power grows irresistibly greater with time.

Everybody wants to be somebody; nobody wants to grow.

Everything in science depends on what one calls an aperçu, on becoming aware of what is at the bottom of the phenomena. Such becoming aware is infinitely fertile.

I respect the man who knows distinctly what he wants.

But when all is said, the greatest art is to limit and isolate oneself.

Lord Byron is only great as a poet; as soon as he reflects he is a child.

From desire I plunge to its fulfilment, where I long once more for desire.