One weeps not save when one is afraid, and that is why kings are tyrants.

Humane sentiments are baseless, mad, and improper; they are incredibly feeble; never do they withstand the gainsaying passions, never do they resist bare necessity.

The mirror sees the man as beautiful, the mirror loves the man; another mirror sees the man as frightful and hates him; and it is always the same being who produces the impressions.

It is certainly no crime to depict the bizarre ideas that nature inspires.

For mortal men there is but one hell, and that is the folly and wickedness and spite of his fellows; but once his life is over, there's an end to it: his annihilation is final and entire, of him nothing survives.

No lover, if he be of good faith, and sincere, will deny he would prefer to see his mistress dead than unfaithful.

Happiness lies only in that which excites, and the only thing that excites is crime.