My passions, concentrated on a single point, resemble the rays of a sun assembled by a magnifying glass: they immediately set fire to whatever object they find in their way.

Sex should be a perfect balance of pain and pleasure. Without that symmetry, sex becomes a routine rather than an indulgence.

It is not my mode of thought that has caused my misfortunes, but the mode of thought of others.

The more defects a man may have, the older he is, the less lovable, the more resounding his success.

I've been to Hell. You've only read about it.

Can we become other than what we are?

To judge from the notions expounded by theologians, one must conclude that God created most men simply with a view to crowding hell.