It may cost me twenty thousand francs; but for twenty thousand francs, I will have the right to rail against the iniquity of humanity, and to devote to it my eternal hatred.

All the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill the history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill at dancing.

Tobacco is the passion of honest men and he who lives without tobacco is not worthy of living.

It is fine for a woman to know a lot; but I don't want her to have this shocking desire to be learned for learnedness sake. When I ask a woman a question, I like her to pretend to ignore what she really knows.

There's a sort of decency among the dead, a remarkable discretion: you never find them making any complaint against the doctor who killed them!

If everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless.

There is no reward so delightful, no pleasure so exquisite, as having one's work known and acclaimed by those whose applause confers honor.