always either on a peak of happiness or drowning in black waters of despair they loved or they loathed, they lived in a world of superlatives

The English lord marries for love, and is rather inclined to love where money is; he rarely marries in order to improve his coat of arms.

Life is sometimes sad and often dull, but there are currants in the cake, and here is one of them.

Most people like reading about what they already know - there is even a public for yesterday's weather.

The great advantage of living in a large family is that early lesson of life's essential unfairness.

Do you always laugh when you make love?' said Fabrice. I hadn't thought about it, but I suppose I do. I generally laugh when I'm happy and cry when I'm not. Do you find it odd?

There are worse things than poverty, though I can't for the moment remember what they are.