Are not the thoughts of the dying often turned towards the practical, painful, obscure, visceral aspect, towards the "seamy side" of death which is, as it happens, the side that death actually presents to them and forces them to feel, and which far more closely resembles a crushing burden, a difficulty in breathing, a destroying thirst, than the abstract idea to which we are accustomed to give the name of Death?

For one cannot change, that is to say become another person, while continuing to acquiesce to the feelings of the person one no longer is.

Our intonations contain our philosophy of life, what each of us is constantly telling himself about things.

Do not wait for life. Do not long for it. Be aware, always and at every moment, that the miracle is in the here and now.

It comes so soon, the moment when there is nothing left to wait for.

We think and name in one world, we live and feel in another.

That which we remember of our conduct is ignored by our closest neighbour; but that which we have forgotten having said, or even what we never said, will cause laughter even into the next world.