People fascinated by the idea of progress never suspect that every step forward is also a step on the way to the end.

Leroy interrupted Chantal's fantasies: "Freedom? As you live our your desolation, you can be either unhappy or happy. Having that choice is what constitutes your freedom. You're free to melt your own individuality into the cauldron of the multitude either with a feeling of defeat or euphoria.

A novel that does not uncover a hitherto unknown segment of existence is immoral. Knowledge is the novel's only morality.

Since the insignificance of all things is our lot, we should not bear it as an affliction but learn to enjoy it.

She knew, of course that she was being supremely unfair, that Franz was the best man she ever had- he was intelligent, he understood her paintings, he was handsome and good-but the more she thought about it, the more she longed to ravish his intelligence, defile his kindheartedness, and violate his powerless strength

Modern stupidity means not ignorance but the nonthought of received ideas

All lovers unconsciously establish their own rules of the game, which from the outset admit of no transgression.