The earth for us is a place to live in, where we must put up with sights, with sounds, with smells, too, by Jove! - breathe dead hippo, so as to speak, and not be contaminated. And there, don't you see? your strength comes in, the faith in your ability for the digging of unostentatious holes to bury the stuff in - your power of devotion, not to yourself, but to an obscure, back-breaking business.

The moon had spread over everything a thin layer of silver - over the rank grass, over the mud, upon the wall of matted vegetation standing higher than the wall of a temple, over the great river I could see through a sombre gap glittering, glittering, as it flowed broadly by without a murmur. All this was great, expectant, mute, while the man jabbered about himself.

I can't imagine a human being so hard up for something to do as to quarrel with me.

Action is consolatory. It is the enemy of thought and the friend of flattering illusions.

Gossip is what no one claims to like, but everybody enjoys.

I am a great foe of favoritism in public life, in private life, and even in the delicate relationship of an author to his works.

A certain simplicity of thought is common to serene souls at both ends of the social scale.