The worst of it is that I am perpetually being punished for nothing; this governor loves to punish, and he punishes by taking my books away from me. It's perfectly awful to let the mind grind itself away between the upper and nether millstones of regret and remorse without respite; with books my life would be livable -- any life.

I worshipped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshipped yourself too much. We are both punished.

It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.

I didn't have a life until I went up onstage.

In America the young are always ready to give to those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience.

The gods are strange. It is not our vices only they make instruments to scourge us. They bring us to ruin through what in us is good, gentle, humane, loving.

Love will fly if held too lightly Love will die if held too tightly . . .