I was ready to love the whole world, but no one understood me, and I learned to hate.

Out of life's storm I carried only a few ideas - and not one feeling.

A strange thing, the human heart in general, and woman's heart in particular.

An unusual beginning must have an unusual end.

It is sad to see a young man's fondest hopes and dreams shattered when the rose-colured veil is plucked away and he sees the actions and feelings of men for what they are. But he still has the hope of replacing his old illusions with others, just as fleeting, but also just as sweet.

We practically always excuse things when we understand them

I was lying, but I wanted to rouse him. I have an inborn urge to contradict; my whole life has been a mere chain of sad and futile opposition to the dictates of either heart or reason. The presence of an enthusiast makes me as cold as a midwinter's day, and, I believe, frequent association with a listless phlegmatic would make me an impassioned dreamer.