...talent means nothing, while experience, acquired in humility and with hard work, means everything.

He succeeded in being considered totally uninteresting. People left him alone. And that was all he wanted.

And suddenly solitude fell across his heart like a dusty reflection. He closed his eyes. The dark doors within him opened and he entered. The next performance in the theater of Grenouille's soul was beginning.

It was good, really, that this external world still existed, if only as a place of refuge.

And because people are stupid and use their noses only for blowing, but believe absolutely anything they see with their eyes, they will say it is because this is a girl with beauty and grace and charm.

He had escaped the abhorrent taint! He was truly completely alone! He was the only human being in the world!

...he came to the conclusion that you cannot depend on people, and that you can live in peace only if you keep them at arm's length.