Beauty without colour seems somehow to belong to another world.

It is useless to talk with those who do not understand one and troublesome to talk with those who criticize from a feeling of superiority. Especially one-sided persons are troublesome. Few are accomplished in many arts and most cling narrowly to their own opinion.

Some ... have imagined that by arousing a baseless suspicion in the mind of the beloved we can revive a waning devotion. But this experiment is very dangerous. Those who recommend it are confident that so long as resentment is groundless one need only suffer it in silence and all will soon be well. I have observed however that this is by no means the case.

You that in far-off countries of the sky can dwell secure, look back upon me here; for I am weary of this frail world's decay.

The memories of long love gather like drifting snow, poignant as the mandarin ducks who float side by side in sleep.

There is a tendency among men as well as women ... so soon as they have acquired a little knowledge of some kind, to want to display it to the best advantage.

Who has told you that the fruit belies the flower? For the fruit you have not tasted, and the flower you know but by report.