Criticism, that fine flower of personal expression in the garden of letters.

The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealth, the germs of empires.

The ethical view of the universe involves us in so many cruel and absurd contradictions that I have come to suspect that the aim of creation cannot be ethical at all.

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.

You shall judge a man by his foes as well as by his friends.

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

Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men.